POIROT INVESTIGATES (1924)

Agatha Christie

The Adventure of "The Western Star"

The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor
The Adventure of the Cheap Flat
The Mystery of Hunter's Lodge
A Million Dollar Bond Robbery
The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb
The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan
The Kidnapped Prime Minister
The Disappearance of Mr Davenheim
The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman
The Case of the Missing Will
The Veiled Lady
The Lost Mine
The Chocolate Box

THE ADVENTURE OF "THE WESTERN STAR"

I was standing at the window of Poirot's rooms looking out idly on the street below.
"That's queer," I ejaculated suddenly beneath my breath.
"What is, mon ami?" asked Poirot placidly, from the depths of his comfortable chair.
"Deduce, Poirot, from the following facts! Here is a young lady, richly dressed - fashionable hat,
magnificent furs. She is coming along slowly, looking up at the houses as she goes. Unknown to
her, she is being shadowed by three men and a middle-aged woman. They have just been joined
by an errand boy who points after the girl, gesticulating as he does so. What drama is this being
played? Is the girl a crook, and are the shadowers detectives preparing to arrest her? Or are they
the scoundrels, and are they plotting to attack an innocent victim? What does the great detective
say?"
"The great detective, mon ami, chooses, as ever, the simplest course. He rises to see for himself."
And my friend joined me at the window.
In a minute he gave vent to an amused chuckle.
"As usual, your facts are tinged with your incurable romanticism. That is Miss Mary Marvell, the film
star. She is being followed by a bevy of admirers who have recognized her. And, en passant, my
dear Hastings, she is quite aware of the fact!"
I laughed.
"So all is explained! But you get no marks for that, Poirot. It was a mere matter of recognition."
"En vérité! And how many times have you seen Mary Marvell on the screen, mon cher?"
I thought.
"About a dozen times perhaps."
"And I - once! Yet I recognize her, and you do not."
"She looks so different," I replied rather feebly.
"Ah! Sacré!" cried Poirot. "Is it that you expect her to promenade herself in the streets of London in
a cowboy hat, or with bare feet, and a bunch of curls, as an Irish colleen? Always with you it is the
non-essentials! Remember the case of the dancer, Valerie Saintclair."
I shrugged my shoulders, slightly annoyed.
"But console yourself, mon ami," said Poirot, calming down. "All cannot be as Hercule Poirot! I
know it well."
"You really have the best opinion of yourself of anyone I ever knew!" I cried, divided between
amusement and annoyance.
"What will you? When one is unique, one knows it! And others share that opinion - even, if I
mistake not, Miss Mary Marvell."
"What?"
"Without doubt. She is coming here."
"How do you make that out?"
"Very simply. This street, it is not aristocratic, mon ami! In it there is no fashionable doctor, no
fashionable dentist - still less is there a fashionable milliner! But there is a fashionable detective.
Oui, my friend, it is true - I am become the mode, the dernier cri! One says to another: 'Comment?
You have lost your gold pencil-case? You must go to the little Belgian. He is too marvellous! Every
one goes! Courez!' And they arrive! In flocks, mon ami! With problems of the most foolish!" A bell
rang below. "What did I tell you? That is Miss Marvell."
As usual, Poirot was right. After a short interval, the American film star was ushered in, and we
rose to our feet.
Mary Marvell was undoubtedly one of the most popular actresses on the screen. She had only
lately arrived in England in company with her husband, Gregory B. Rolf, also a film actor. Their
marriage had taken place about a year ago in the States and this was their first visit to England.
They had been given a great reception. Every one was prepared to go mad over Mary Marvell, her
wonderful clothes, her furs, her jewels, above all one jewel, the great diamond which had been
nicknamed, to match its owner, "the Western Star." Much, true and untrue, had been written about
this famous stone which was reported to be insured for the enormous sum of fifty thousand pounds.
All these details passed rapidly through my mind as I joined with Poirot in greeting our fair client.
Miss Marvell was small and slender, very fair and girlish-looking, with the wide innocent blue eyes
of a child.
Poirot drew forward a chair for her, and she commenced talking at once.
"You will probably think me very foolish, Monsieur Poirot, but Lord Cranshaw was telling me last
night how wonderfully you cleared up the mystery of his nephew's death, and I felt that I just must
have your advice. I dare say it's only a silly hoax - Gregory says so - but it's just worrying me to
death."
She paused for breath. Poirot beamed encouragement.
"Proceed, madame. You comprehend, I am still in the dark."
"It's these letters." Miss Marvell unclasped her handbag, and drew out three envelopes which she
handed to Poirot.
The latter scrutinized them closely.
"Cheap paper - the name and address carefully printed. Let us see the inside." He drew out the
enclosure.
I had joined him, and was leaning over his shoulder. The writing consisted of a single sentence,
carefully printed like the envelope. It ran as follows:
"The great diamond which is the left eye of the god must return whence it came."
The second letter was couched in precisely the same terms, but the third was more explicit:
"You have been warned. You have not obeyed. Now the diamond will be taken from you. At the full
of the moon, the two diamonds which are the left and right eye of the god shall return. So it is
written."
"The first letter I treated as a joke," explained Miss Marvell. "When I got the second, I began to
wonder. The third one came yesterday, and it seemed to me that, after all, the matter might be
more serious than I had imagined."
"I see they did not come by post, these letters."
"No; they were left by hand - by a Chinaman. That is what frightens me."
"Why?"
"Because it was from a Chink in San Francisco that Gregory bought the stone three years ago."
"I see, madame, that you believe the diamond referred to to be -"
"'The Western Star,'" finished Miss Marvell. "That's so. At the same time, Gregory remembers that
there was some story attached to the stone, but the Chink wasn't handing out any information.
Gregory says he seemed just scared to death, and in a mortal hurry to get rid of the thing. He only
asked about a tenth of its value. It was Greg's wedding present to me."
Poirot nodded thoughtfully.
"The story seems of an almost unbelievable romanticism. And yet - who knows? I pray of you,
Hastings, hand me my little almanac."
I complied.
"Voyons!" said Poirot, turning the leaves. "When is the date of the full moon? Ah, Friday next. That
is in three days' time. Eh bien, madame, you seek my advice - I give it to you. This belle histoire
may be a hoax - but it may not! Therefore I counsel you to place the diamond in my keeping until
after Friday next. Then we can take what steps we please."
A slight cloud passed over the actress's face, and she replied constrainedly:
"I'm afraid that's impossible."
"You have it with you - hein?" Poirot was watching her narrowly.
The girl hesitated a moment, then slipped her hand into the bosom of her gown, drawing out a long
thin chain. She leaned forward, unclosing her hand. In the palm, a stone of fire, exquisitely set in
platinum, lay and winked at us solemnly.
Poirot drew in his breath with a long hiss.
"Épatant!" he murmured. "You permit, madame? He took the jewel in his own hand and scrutinized
it keenly, then restored it to her with a little bow. "A magnificent stone - without a flaw. Ah, cent
tonnerres! and you carry it about with you, comme ça!"
"No, no, I'm very careful really, Monsieur Poirot. As a rule it's locked up in my jewel-case, and left in
the hotel safe deposit. We're staying at the Magnificent, you know. I just brought it along today for
you to see."
"And you will leave it with me, n'est-ce pas? You will be advised by Papa Poirot?"
"Well, you see, it's this way, Monsieur Poirot. On Friday we're going down to Yardly Chase to
spend a few days with Lord and Lady Yardly."
Her words awoke a vague echo of remembrance in my mind. Some gossip - what was it now? A
few years ago Lord and Lady Yardly had paid a visit to the States, rumor had it that his lordship had
rather gone the pace out there with the assistance of some lady friends - but surely there was
something more, some gossip which coupled Lady Yardly's name with that of a "movie" star in
California - why! it came to me in a flash! of course it was none other than Gregory B. Rolf.
"I'll let you into a little secret, Monsieur Poirot," Miss Marvell was continuing. "We've got a deal on
with Lord Yardly. There's some chance of our arranging to film a play down there in his ancestral
pile."
"At Yardly Chase?" I cried, interested. "Why, it's one of the show places of England."
Miss Marvell nodded.
"I guess it's the real old feudal stuff all right. But he wants a pretty stiff price, and of course I don't
know yet whether the deal will go through, but Greg and I always like to combine business with
pleasure."
"But - I demand pardon if I am dense, madame - surely it is possible to visit Yardly Chase without
taking the diamond with you?"
A shrewd, hard look came into Miss Marvell's eyes which belied their childlike appearance. She
looked suddenly a good deal older.
"I want to wear it down there."
"Surely," I said suddenly, "there are some very famous jewels in the Yardly collection, a large
diamond amongst them?"
"That's so," said Miss Marvell briefly.
I heard Poirot murmur beneath his breath: "Ah, c'est comme ça!" Then he said aloud, with his usual
uncanny luck in hitting the bull's-eye (he dignifies it by the name of psychology): "Then you are
without doubt already acquainted with Lady Yardly, or perhaps your husband is?"
"Gregory knew her when she was out West three years ago," said Miss Marvell. She hesitated a
moment, and then added abruptly: "Do either of you ever see Society Gossip?"
We both pleaded guilty rather shamefacedly.
"I asked because in this week's number there is an article on famous jewels, and it's really very
curious -" She broke off.
I rose, went to the table at the other side of the room and returned with the paper in question in my
hand. She took it from me, found the article, and began to read aloud:

"... Amongst other famous stones may be included the Star of the East, a diamond in the
possession of the Yardly family. An ancestor of the present Lord Yardly brought it back with him
from China, and a romantic story is said to attach to it. According to this, the stone was once the
right eye of a temple god. Another diamond, exactly similar in form and size, formed the left eye,
and the story goes that this jewel, too, would in course of time be stolen. 'One eye shall go West,
the other East, till they shall meet once more. Then, in triumph shall they return to the god.' It is a
curious coincidence that there is at the present time a stone corresponding closely in description
with this one, and known as 'the Star of the West,' or 'the Western Star.' It is the property of the
celebrated film actress, Miss Mary Marvell. A comparison of the two stones would be interesting."

I stopped.
"Épatant!" murmured Poirot. "Without doubt a romance of the first water." He turned to Mary
Marvell. "And you are not afraid, madame! You have no superstitious terrors? You do not fear to
introduce these two Siamese twins to each other lest a Chinaman should appear and, hey presto!
whisk them both back to China!"
His tone was mocking, but I fancied that an undercurrent of seriousness lay beneath it.
"I don't believe that Lady Yardly's diamond is anything like as good a stone as mine," said Miss
Marvell. "Anyway, I'm going to see."
What more Poirot would have said I do not know, for at that moment the door flew open, and a
splendid-looking man strode into the room. From his crisply curling black head, to the tips of his
patent-leather boots, he was a hero fit for romance.
"I said I'd call round for you, Mary," said Gregory Rolf, "and here I am. Well, what does Monsieur
Poirot say to our little problem! Just one big hoax, same as I do?"
Poirot smiled up at the big actor. They made a ridiculous contrast.
"Hoax or no hoax, Mr Rolf," he said dryly, "I have advised madame your wife nor to take the jewel
with her to Yardly Chase on Friday."
"I'm with you there, sir. I've already said so to Mary. But there! She's a woman through and
through, and I guess she can't bear to think of another woman outshining her in the jewel line."
"What nonsense, Gregory!" said Mary Marvell sharply. But she flushed angrily.
Poirot shrugged his shoulders.
"Madame, I have advised. I can do no more. C'est fini."
He bowed them both to the door.
"Ah! la la," he observed, returning. "Histoire de femmes! The good husband, he hit the nail on the
head - tout de même, he was not tactful! Assuredly not."
I imparted to him my vague remembrances, and he nodded vigorously.
"So I thought. All the same, there is something curious underneath all this. With your permission,
mon ami, I will take the air. Await my return, I beg of you. I shall not be long."
I was half asleep in my chair when the landlady tapped on the door, and put her head in.
"It's another lady to see Mr Poirot, sir. I've told her he was out, but she says as how she'll wait,
seeing as she's come up from the country."
"Oh, show her in here, Mrs Murchison. Perhaps I can do something for her."
In another moment the lady had been ushered in.
My heart gave a leap as I recognized her. Lady Yardly's portrait had figured too often in the Society
papers to allow her to remain unknown.
"Do sit down, Lady Yardly," I said, drawing forward a chair. "My friend Poirot is out, but I know for a
fact that he'll be back very shortly."
She thanked me and sat down. A very different type, this, from Miss Mary Marvell. Tall, dark, with
flashing eyes, and a pale proud face - yet something wistful in the curves of the mouth.
I felt a desire to rise to the occasion. Why not? In Poirot's presence I have frequently felt a difficulty
- I do not appear at my best. And yet there is no doubt that I, too, possess the deductive sense in a
marked degree. I leant forward on a sudden impulse.
"Lady Yardly," I said, "I know why you have come here. You have received blackmailing letters
about the diamond."
There was no doubt as to my bolt having shot home. She stared at me open-mouthed, all color
banished from her cheeks.
"You know?" she gasped. "How?"
I smiled.
"By a perfectly logical process. If Miss Marvell has had warning letters -"
"Miss Marvell! She has been here?"
"She has just left. As I was saying, if she, as the holder of one of the twin diamonds, has received a
mysterious series of warnings, you, as the holder of the other stone, must necessarily have done
the same. You see how simple it is? I am right, then, you have received these strange
communications also?"
For a moment she hesitated, as though in doubt whether to trust me or not, then she bowed her
head in assent with a little smile.
"That is so," she acknowledged.
"Were yours, too, left by hand - by a Chinaman?"
"No, they came by post; but, tell me, has Miss Marvell undergone the same experience, then?"
I recounted to her the events of the morning. She listened attentively.
"It all fits in. My letters are the duplicates of hers. It is true that they came by post, but there is a
curious perfume impregnating them - something in the nature of joss-stick - that at once suggested
the East to me. What does it all mean?"
I shook my head.
"That is what we must find out. You have the letters with you? We might learn something from the
postmarks."
"Unfortunately I destroyed them. You understand, at the time I regarded it as some foolish joke.
Can it be true that some Chinese gang are really trying to recover the diamonds? It seems too
incredible."
We went over the facts again and again, but could get no further towards the elucidation of the
mystery. At last Lady Yardly rose.
"I really don't think I need wait for Monsieur Poirot. You can tell him all this, can't you? Thank you
so much, Mr -"
She hesitated, her hand outstretched.
"Captain Hastings."
"Of course! How stupid of me. You're a friend of the Cavendishes, aren't you? It was Mary
Cavendish who sent me to Monsieur Poirot."
When my friend returned, I enjoyed telling him the tale of what had occurred during his absence.
He cross-questioned me rather sharply over the details of our conversation and I could read
between the lines that he was not best pleased to have been absent. I also fancied that the dear
old fellow was just the least inclined to be jealous. It had become rather a pose with him to
consistently belittle my abilities, and I think he was chagrined at finding no loophole for criticism. I
was secretly rather pleased with myself, though I tried to conceal the fact for fear of irritating him. In
spite of his idiosyncrasies, I was deeply attached to my quaint little friend.
"Bien!" he said at length, with a curious look on his face. "The plot develops. Pass me, I pray you,
that 'Peerage' on the top shelf there." He turned the leaves. "Ah, here we are! 'Yardly... 10th
viscount, served South African War'... tout ça n'a pas d'importance... 'mar. 1907 Hon. Maude
Stopperton, fourth daughter of 3rd Baron Cotteril'... um, um, um,... 'has iss. two daughters, born
1908, 1910... Clubs... esidences.'... Voilà, that does not tell us much. But tomorrow morning we see
this milord!"
"What?"
"Yes. I telegraphed him."
"I thought you had washed your hands of the case?"
"I am not acting for Miss Marvell since she refuses to be guided by my advice. What I do now is for
my own satisfaction - the satisfaction of Hercule Poirot! Decidedly, I must have a finger in this pie."
"And you calmly wire Lord Yardly to dash up to town just to suit your convenience. He won't be
pleased."
"Au contraire, if I preserve for him his family diamond, he ought to be very grateful."
"Then you really think there is a chance of its being stolen?" I asked eagerly.
"Almost a certainty," replied Poirot placidly. "Everything points that way."
"But how -"
Poirot stopped my eager questions with an airy gesture of the hand.
"Not now, I pray you. Let us not confuse the mind. And observe that 'Peerage' - how you have
replaced him! See you not that the tallest books go in the top shelf, the next tallest in the row
beneath, and so on. Thus we have order, method, which, as I have often told you, Hastings -"
"Exactly," I said hastily, and put the offending volume in its proper place.

Lord Yardly turned out to be a cheery, loud-voiced sportsman with a rather red face, but with a
good-humored bonhomie about him that was distinctly attractive and made up for any lack of
mentality.
"Extraordinary business this, Monsieur Poirot. Can't make head or tail of it. Seems my wife's been
getting odd kinds of letters, and that this Miss Marvell's had 'em too. What does it all mean?"
Poirot handed him the copy of the Society Gossip.
"First, milord, I would ask if these facts are substantially correct?"
The peer took it. His face darkened with anger as he read.
"Damned nonsense!" he spluttered. "There's never been any romantic story attaching to the
diamond. It came from India originally, I believe. I never heard of all this Chinese god stuff."
"Still, the stone is known as 'The Star of the East.'"
"Well what if it is?" he demanded wrathfully.
Poirot smiled a little, but made no direct reply.
"What I would ask you to do, milord, is to place yourself in my hands. If you do so unreservedly, I
have great hopes of averting the catastrophe."
"Then you think there's actually something in these wild-cat tales?"
"Will you do as I ask you?"
"Of course I will, but -"
"Bien! Then permit that I ask you a few questions. This affair of Yardly Chase, is it, as you say, all
fixed up between you and Mr Rolf?"
"Oh, he told you about it, did he? No, there's nothing settled." He hesitated, the brick-red color of
his face deepening. "Might as well get the thing straight. I've made rather an ass of myself in many
ways, Monsieur Poirot - and I'm head over ears in debt - but I want to pull up. I'm fond of the kids,
and I want to straighten things up, and be able to live on at the old place. Gregory Rolf is offering
me big money - enough to set me on my feet again. I don't want to do it - I hate the thought of all
that crowd play-acting round the Chase - but I may have to, unless -" He broke off.
Poirot eyed him keenly, "You have, then, an other string to your bow? Permit that I make a guess?
It is to sell the Star of the East?"
Lord Yardly nodded. "That's it. It's been in the family for some generations, but it's not entailed.
Still, it's not the easiest thing in the world to find a purchaser. Hoffberg, the Hatton Garden man, is
on the look-out for a likely customer, but he'll have to find one soon, or it's a washout."
"One more question, permettez - Lady Yardly, which plan does she approve?"
"Oh, she's bitterly opposed to my selling the jewel. You know what women are. She's all for this film
stunt."
"I comprehend," said Poirot. He remained a moment or so in thought, then rose briskly to his feet.
"You return to Yardly Chase at once? Bien! Say no word to anyone - to anyone, mind - but expect
us there this evening. We will arrive shortly after five,"
"All right, but I don't see -"
"Ça n'a pas d'importance," said Poirot kindly. "You will that I preserve for you your diamond, n'est-
ce pas?"
"Yes, but -"
"Then do as I say."
A sadly bewildered nobleman left the room.

It was half-past five when we arrived at Yardly Chase, and followed the dignified butler to the old
paneled hall with its fire of blazing logs. A pretty picture met our eyes: Lady Yardly and her two
children, the mother's proud dark head bent down over the two fair ones. Lord Yardly stood near,
smiling down on them.
"Monsieur Poirot and Captain Hastings," announced the butler.
Lady Yardly looked up with a start, her husband came forward uncertainly, his eyes seeking
instruction from Poirot. The little man was equal to the occasion.
"All my excuses! It is that I investigate still this affair of Miss Marvell's. She comes to you on Friday,
does she not? I make a little tour first to make sure that all is secure. Also I wanted to ask of Lady
Yardly if she recollected at all the postmarks on the letters she received?"
Lady Yardly shook her head regretfully. "I'm afraid I don't. It is stupid of me. But, you see, I never
dreamt of taking them seriously."
"You'll stay the night?" said Lord Yardly.
"Oh, milord, I fear to incommode you. We have left our bags at the inn."
"That's all right." Lord Yardly had his cue. "We'll send down for them. No, no - no trouble, I assure
you."
Poirot permitted himself to be persuaded, and sitting down by Lady Yardly, began to make friends
with the children. In a short time they were all romping together, and had dragged me into the
game.
"Vous êtes bonne mère," said Poirot, with a gallant little bow, as the children were removed
reluctantly by a stern nurse.
Lady Yardly smoothed her ruffled hair.
"I adore them," she said with a little catch in her voice.
"And they you - with reason!" Poirot bowed again.
A dressing-gong sounded, and we rose to go up to our rooms. At that moment the butler entered
with a telegram on a salver which he handed to Lord Yardly. The latter tore it open with a brief word
of apology. As he read it he stiffened visibly.
With an ejaculation, he handed it to his wife. Then he glanced at my friend.
"Just a minute, Monsieur Poirot. I feel you ought to know about this. It's from Hoffberg. He thinks
he's found a customer for the diamond - an American, sailing for the States tomorrow. They're
sending down a chap tonight to vet the stone. By Jove, though, if this goes through -" Words failed
him.
Lady Yardly had turned away. She still held the telegram in her hand.
"I wish you wouldn't sell it, George," she said, in a low voice. "It's been in the family so long." She
waited, as though for a reply, but when none came her face hardened. She shrugged her
shoulders. "I must go and dress. I suppose I had better display 'the goods.'" She turned to Poirot
with a slight grimace.
"It's one of the most hideous necklaces that was ever designed! George has always promised to
have the stones reset for me, but it's never been done." She left the room. Half an hour later, we
three were assembled in the great drawing-room awaiting the lady. It was already a few minutes
past the dinner hour.
Suddenly there was a low rustle, and Lady Yardly appeared framed in the doorway, a radiant figure
in a long white shimmering dress. Round the column of her neck was a rivulet of fire. She stood
there with one hand just touching the necklace.
"Behold the sacrifice," she said gaily. Her ill-humor seemed to have vanished. "Wait while I turn the
big light on and you shall feast your eyes on the ugliest necklace in England."
The switches were just outside the door. As she stretched out her hand to them, the incredible
thing happened. Suddenly without any warning, every light was extinguished, the door banged, and
from the other side of it came a long-drawn piercing woman's scream.
"My God!" cried Lord Yardly. "That was Maude's voice! What has happened?"
We rushed blindly for the door, cannoning into each other in the darkness. It was some minutes
before we could find it. What a sight met our eyes! Lady Yardly lay senseless on the marble floor, a
crimson mark on her white throat where the necklace had been wrenched from her neck.
As we bent over her, uncertain for the moment whether she were dead or alive, her eyelids
opened.
"The Chinaman," she whispered painfully. "The Chinaman - the side door."
Lord Yardly sprang up with an oath. I accompanied him, my heart beating wildly. The Chinaman
again! The side door in question was a small one in the angle of the wall, not more than a dozen
yards from the scene of the tragedy. As we reached it, I gave a cry. There, just short of the
threshold, lay the glittering necklace, evidently dropped by the thief in the panic of his flight. I
swooped joyously down on it. Then I uttered another cry which Lord Yardly echoed. For in the
middle of the necklace was a great gap. The Star of the East was missing!
"That settles it," I breathed. "These were no ordinary thieves. This one stone was all they wanted."
"But how did the fellow get in?"
"Through this door."
"But it's always locked."
I shook my head. "It's not locked now. See." I pulled it open as I spoke.
As I did so something fluttered to the ground. I picked it up. It was a piece of silk, and the
embroidery was unmistakable. It had been tom from a Chinaman's robe.
"In his haste it caught in the door," I explained. "Come, hurry. He cannot have gone far as yet."
But in vain we hunted and searched. In the pitch darkness of the night, the thief had found it easy
to make his getaway. We returned reluctantly, and Lord Yardly sent off one of the footmen post-
haste to fetch the police.
Lady Yardly, aptly ministered to by Poirot, who is as good as a woman in these matters, was
sufficiently recovered to be able to tell her story.
"I was just going to turn on the other light," she said, "when a man sprang on me from behind. He
tore my necklace from my neck with such force that I fell headlong to the floor. As I fell I saw him
disappearing through the side door. Then I realized by the pig-tail and the embroidered robe that he
was a Chinaman."
She stopped with a shudder.
The butler reappeared. He spoke in a low voice to Lord Yardly.
"A gentleman from Mr Hoffberg's, m'lord. He says you expect him."
"Good heavens!" cried the distracted nobleman. "I must see him, I suppose. No, not here, Mullings,
in the library."
I drew Poirot aside.
"Look here, my dear fellow, hadn't we better get back to London?"
"You think so, Hastings? Why?"
"Well -" I coughed delicately - "things haven't gone very well, have they? I mean, you tell Lord
Yardly to place himself in your hands and all will be well - and then the diamond vanishes from
under your very nose!"
"True," said Poirot, rather crestfallen. "It was not one of my most striking triumphs."
This way of describing events almost caused me to smile, but I stuck to my guns.
"So, having - pardon the expression - rather made a mess of things, don't you think it would be
more graceful to leave immediately?"
"And the dinner, the without doubt excellent dinner, that the chef of Lord Yardly has prepared?"
"Oh, what's dinner!" I said impatiently.
Poirot held up his hands in horror.
"Mon Dieu! It is that in this country you treat the affairs gastronomic with a criminal indifference."
"There's another reason why we should get back to London as soon as possible," I continued.
"What is that, my friend?"
"The other diamond," I said, lowering my voice. "Miss Marvell's."
"Eh bien, what of it?"
"Don't you see?" His unusual obtuseness annoyed me. What had happened to his usually keen
wits? "They've got one, now they'll go for the other."
"Tiens!" cried Poirot, stepping back a pace and regarding me with admiration. "But your brain
marches to a marvel, by friend! Figure to yourself that for the moment I had not thought of that! But
there is plenty of time. The full of the moon, it is not until Friday."
I shook my head dubiously. The full of the moon theory left me entirely cold. I had my way with
Poirot, however, and we departed immediately, leaving behind us a note of explanation and
apology for Lord Yardly.
My idea was to go at once to the Magnificent, and relate to Miss Marvell what had occurred, but
Poirot vetoed the plan, and insisted that the morning would be time enough. I gave in rather
grudgingly.
In the morning Poirot seemed strangely disinclined to stir out. I began to suspect that, having made
a mistake to start with, he was singularly loath to proceed with the case. In answer to my
persuasions, he pointed out, with admirable common sense, that as the details of the affair at
Yardly Chase were already in the morning papers the Rolfs would know quite as much as we could
tell them. I gave way unwillingly.
Events proved my forebodings to be justified. About two o'clock, the telephone rang. Poirot
answered it. He listened for some moments, then with a brief "Bien, j'y serai" he rang off, and
turned to me.
"What do you think, mon ami?" He looked half ashamed, half excited. "The diamond of Miss
Marvell, it has been stolen."
"What?" I cried, springing up. "And what about the 'full of the moon' now?" Poirot hung his head.
"When did this happen?"
"This morning, I understand."
I shook my head sadly. "If only you had listened to me. You see I was right."
"It appears so, mon ami," said Poirot cautiously. "Appearances are deceptive, they say, but it
certainly appears so."
As we hurried in a taxi to the Magnificent, I puzzled out the true inwardness of the scheme.
"That 'full of the moon' idea was clever. The whole point of it was to get us to concentrate on the
Friday, and so be off our guard beforehand. It is a pity you did not realize that."
"Ma foi!" said Poirot airily, his nonchalance quite restored after its brief eclipse. "One cannot think of
everything!"
I felt sorry for him. He did so hate failure of any kind.
"Cheer up," I said consolingly. "Better luck next time."
At the Magnificent, we were ushered at once into the manager's office. Gregory Rolf was there with
two men from Scotland Yard. A pale-faced clerk sat opposite them.
Rolf nodded as we entered.
"We're getting to the bottom of it," he said. "But it's almost unbelievable. How the guy had the nerve
I can't think."
A very few minutes sufficed to give us the facts. Mr Rolf had gone out of the hotel at 11:15. At
11:30, a gentleman, so like him in appearance as to pass muster, entered the hotel and demanded
the jewel-case from the safe deposit. He duly signed the receipt, remarking carelessly as he did so:
"Looks a bit different from my ordinary one, but I hurt my hand getting out of the taxi." The clerk
merely smiled and remarked that he saw very little difference. Rolf laughed and said: "Well, don't
run me in as a crook this time, anyway. I've been getting threatening letters from a Chinaman, and
the worst of it is I look rather like a Chink myself - it's something about the eyes."
"I looked at him," said the clerk who was telling us this, "and I saw at once what he meant. The
eyes slanted up at the corners like an Oriental's. I'd never noticed it before."
"Darn it all, man," roared Gregory Rolf, leaning forward. "Do you notice it now?"
The man looked up at him and started.
"No, sir," he said. "I can't say that I do." And indeed there was nothing even remotely Oriental about
the frank brown eyes that looked into ours.
The Scotland Yard man grunted. "Bold customer. Thought the eyes might be noticed, and took the
bull by the horns to disarm suspicion. He must have watched you out of the hotel, sir, and nipped in
as soon as you were well away."
"What about the jewel-case?" I asked.
"It was found in a corridor of the hotel. Only one thing had been taken - 'the Western Star.'"
We stared at each other - the whole thing was so bizarre, so unreal.
Poirot hopped briskly to his feet. "I have not been of much use, I fear," he said regretfully. "Is it
permitted to see Madame?"
"I guess she's prostrated with the shock," explained Rolf.
"Then perhaps I might have a few words alone with you, monsieur?"
"Certainly."
In about five minutes Poirot reappeared.
"Now, my friend," he said gaily. "To a post office. I have to send a telegram."
"Who to?"
"Lord Yardly." He discounted further inquiries by slipping his arm through mine. "Come, come, mon
ami. I know all that you feel about this miserable business. I have not distinguished myself! You, in
my place, might have distinguished yourself! Bien! All is admitted. Let us forget it and have lunch."
It was about four o'clock when we entered Poirot's rooms. A figure rose from a chair by the window.
It was Lord Yardly. He looked haggard and distraught.
"I got your wire and came up at once. Look here, I've been around to Hoffberg, and they know
nothing about that man of theirs last night, or the wire either. Do you think that -"
Poirot held up his hand.
"My excuses! I sent that wire, and hired the gentleman in question."
"You - but why? What?" The nobleman spluttered impotently.
"My little idea was to bring things to a head," explained Poirot placidly.
"Bring things to a head! Oh, my God!" cried Lord Yardly.
"And the ruse succeeded," said Poirot cheerfully. "Therefore, milord, I have much pleasure in
returning you - this!" With a dramatic gesture he produced a glittering object. It was a great
diamond.
"The Star of the East." gasped Lord Yardly. "But I don't understand -"
"No?" said Poirot. "It makes no matter. Believe me, it was necessary for the diamond to be stolen. I
promised you that it should be preserved to you, and I have kept my word. You must permit me to
keep my little secret. Convey, I beg of you, the assurances of my deepest respect to Lady Yardly,
and tell her how pleased I am to be able to restore her jewel to her. What beau temps, is it not?
Good day, milord."
And smiling and talking, the amazing little man conducted the bewildered nobleman to the door. He
returned gently rubbing his hands.
"Poirot," I said. "Am I quite demented?"
"No, mon ami, but you are, as always, in a mental fog."
"How did you get the diamond?"
"From Mr Rolf."
"Rolf?"
"Mais oui! The warning letters, the Chinaman, the article in Society Gossip, all sprang from the
ingenious brain of Mr Rolf! The two diamonds, supposed to be so miraculously alike - bah! they did
not exist. There was only one diamond, my friend! Originally in the Yardly collection, for three years
it has been in the possession of Mr Rolf. He stole it this morning with the assistance of a touch of
grease paint at the corner of each eye! Ah, I must see him on the film, he is indeed an artist, celui-
là!"
"But why did he steal his own diamond?" I asked, puzzled.
"For many reasons. To begin with, Lady Yardly was getting restive."
"Lady Yardly?"
"You comprehend she was left much alone in California. Her husband was amusing himself
elsewhere. Mr Rolf was handsome, he had an air about him of romance. But au fond, he is very
business-like, ce monsieur! He made love to Lady Yardly, and then he blackmailed her. I taxed the
lady with the truth the other night. nd she admitted it. She swore that she had only been indiscreet,
and I believe her. But, undoubtedly, Rolf had letters of hers that could be twisted to bear a different
interpretation. Terrified by the threat of a divorce, and the prospect of being separated from her
children, she agreed to all he wished. She had no money of her own, and she was forced to permit
him to substitute a paste replica for the real stone. The coincidence of the date of the appearance
of 'the Western Star' struck me at once. All goes well. Lord Yardly prepares to range himself - to
settle down. And then comes the menace of the possible sale of the diamond. The substitution will
be discovered. Without doubt she writes off frantically to Gregory Rolf who has just arrived in
England. He soothes her by promising to arrange all - and prepares for a double robbery. In this
way he will quiet the lady, who might conceivably tell all to her husband, an affair which would not
suit our blackmailer at all, he will have £50,000 insurance money (aha, you had forgotten that!), and
he will still have the diamond! At this point I put my finger in the pie. The arrival of a diamond expert
is announced. Lady Yardly, as I felt sure she would, immediately arranges a robbery - and does it
very well too! But Hercule Poirot, he sees nothing but facts. What happens in actuality? The lady
switches off the light, bangs the door, throws the necklace down the passage, and screams. She
had already wrenched out the diamond with pliers upstairs -"
"But we saw the necklace round her neck!" I objected.
"I demand pardon, my friend. Her hand concealed the part of it where the gap would have shown.
To place a piece of silk in the door beforehand is child's play! Of course, as soon as Rolf read of
the robbery, he arranged his own little comedy. And very well he played it!"
"What did you say to him?" I asked with lively curiosity.
"I said to him that Lady Yardly had told her husband all, that I was empowered to recover the jewel,
and that if it were not immediately handed over proceedings would be taken. Also a few more little
lies which occurred to me. He was as wax in my hands!"
I pondered the matter.
"It seems a little unfair on Mary Marvell. She has lost her diamond through no fault of her own."
"Bah!" said Poirot brutally. "She has a magnificent advertisement. That is all she cares for, that one!
Now the other, she is different. Bonne mère, très femme!"
"Yes," I said doubtfully, hardly sharing Poirot's views on femininity. "I suppose it was Rolf who sent
her the duplicate letters."
"Pas du tout," said Poirot briskly. "She came by the advice of Mary Cavendish to seek my aid in her
dilemma. Then she heard that Mary Marvell, whom she knew to be her enemy, had been here, and
she changed her mind, jumping at a pretext that you, my friend, offered her. A very few questions
sufficed to show me that you told her of the letters, not she you! She jumped at the chance your
words offered."
"I don't believe it," I cried, stung.
"Si, si, mon ami, it is a pity that you study not the psychology. She told you that the letters were
destroyed? Oh, la la, never does a woman destroy a letter if she can avoid it! Not even if it would
be more prudent to do so!"
"It's all very well," I said, my anger rising, "but you've made a perfect fool of me! From beginning to
end! No, it's all very well to try to explain it away afterwards. There really is a limit!"
"But you were so enjoying yourself, my friend. I had not the heart to shatter your illusions."
"It's no good. You've gone a bit too far this time."
"Mon Dieu! but how you enrage yourself for nothing, mon ami!"
"I'm fed up!" I went out, banging the door. Poirot had made an absolute laughing-stock of me. I
decided he needed a sharp lesson. I would let some time elapse before I forgave him. He had
encouraged me to make a perfect fool of myself!

THE TRAGEDY AT MARSDON MANOR

I had been called away from town for a few days, and on my return found Poirot in the act of
strapping up his small valise.
"A la bonne heure, Hastings. I feared you would not have returned in time to accompany me."
"You are called away on a case, then?"
"Yes, though I am bound to admit that, on the face of it, the affair does not seem promising. The
Northern Union Insurance Company have asked me to investigate the death of a Mr Maltravers
who a few weeks ago insured his life with them for the large sum of fifty thousand pounds."
"Yes?" I said, much interested.
"There was, of course, the usual suicide clause in the policy. In the event of his committing suicide
within a year the premiums would be forfeited. Mr Maltravers was duly examined by the Company's
own doctor, and although he was a man slightly past the prime of life was passed as being in quite
sound health. However, on Wednesday last - the day before yesterday - the body of Mr Maltravers
was found in the grounds of his house in Essex, Marsdon Manor, and the cause of his death is
described as some kind of internal hemorrhage. That in itself would be nothing remarkable, but
sinister rumors as to Mr Maltravers' financial position have been in the air of late, and the Northern
Union have ascertained beyond any possible doubt that the deceased gentleman stood upon the
verge of bankruptcy. Now that alters matters considerably. Maltravers had a beautiful young wife,
and it is suggested that he got together all the ready money he could for the purpose of paying the
premiums on a life insurance for his wife's benefit, and then committed suicide. Such a thing is not
uncommon. In any case, my friend Alfred Wright, who is a director of the Northern Union, has
asked me to investigate the facts of the case, but, as I told him, I am not very hopeful of success. If
the cause of the death had been heart failure, I should have been more sanguine. Heart failure may
always be translated as the inability of the local G.P. to discover what his patient really did die of,
but a hemorrhage seems fairly definite. Still, we can but make some necessary inquiries. Five
minutes to pack your bag, Hastings, and we will take a taxi to Liverpool Street."
About an hour later, we alighted from a Great Eastern train at the little station of Marsdon Leigh.
Inquiries at the station yielded the information that Marsdon Manor was about a mile distant. Poirot
decided to walk, and we betook ourselves along the main street.
"What is our plan of campaign?" I asked.
"First I will call upon the doctor. I have ascertained that there is only one doctor in Marsdon Leigh,
Dr Ralph Bernard. Ah, here we are at his house."
The house in question was a kind of superior cottage, standing back a little from the road. A brass
plate on the gate bore the doctor's name. We passed up the path and rang the bell.
We proved to be fortunate in our call. It was the doctor's consulting hour, and for the moment there
were no patients waiting for him. Dr Bernard was an elderly man, high-shouldered and stooping,
with a pleasant vagueness of manner.
Poirot introduced himself and explained the purpose of our visit, adding that Insurance Companies
were bound to investigate fully in a case of this kind.
"Of course, of course," said Dr Bernard vaguely. "I suppose, as he was such a rich man, his life
was insured for a big sum?"
"You consider him a rich man, doctor?"
The doctor looked rather surprised.
"Was he not? He kept two cars, you know, and Marsdon Manor is a pretty big place to keep up,
although I believe he bought it very cheap."
"I understand that he had had considerable losses of late," said Poirot, watching the doctor
narrowly.
The latter, however, merely shook his head sadly.
"Is that so? Indeed. It is fortunate for his wife, then, that there is this life insurance. A very beautiful
and charming young creature, but terribly unstrung by this sad catastrophe. A mass of nerves, poor
thing. I have tried to spare her all I can, but of course the shock was bound to be considerable."
"You have been attending Mr Maltravers recently?"
"My dear sir, I never attended him."
"What?"
"I understand Mr Maltravers was a Christian Scientist - or something of that kind."
"But you examined the body?"
"Certainly. I was fetched by one of the undergardeners."
"And the cause of death was clear?"
"Absolutely. There was blood on the lips, but most of the bleeding must have been internal."
"Was he still lying where he had been found?"
"Yes, the body had not been touched. He was lying on the edge of a small plantation. He had
evidently been out shooting rooks, a small rook rifle lay beside him. The hemorrhage must have
occurred quite suddenly. Gastric ulcer, without a doubt."
"No question of his having been shot, eh?"
"My dear sir!"
"I demand pardon," said Poirot humbly. "But, if my memory is not at fault, in the case of a recent
murder, the doctor first gave a verdict of heart failure - altering it when the local constable pointed
out that there was a bullet wound through the head!"
"You will not find any bullet wounds on the body of Mr Maltravers," said Dr Bernard dryly. "Now,
gentlemen, if there is nothing further -"
We took the hint.
"Good morning, and many thanks to you, doctor, for so kindly answering our questions. By the way,
you saw no need for an autopsy?"
"Certainly not." The doctor became quite apoplectic. "The cause of death was clear, and in my
profession we see no need to distress unduly the relatives of a dead patient."
And, turning, the doctor slammed the door sharply in our faces.
"And what do you think of Dr Bernard, Hastings?" inquired Poirot, as we proceeded on our way to
the Manor.
"Rather an old ass."
"Exactly. Your judgments of character are always profound, my friend."
I glanced at him uneasily, but he seemed perfectly serious. A twinkle, however, came into his eye,
and he added slyly:
"That is to say, when there is no question of a beautiful woman!"
I looked at him coldly.
On our arrival at the Manor-house, the door was opened to us by a middle-aged parlormaid. Poirot
handed her his card, and a letter from the Insurance Company for Mrs Maltravers. She showed us
into a small morning-room, and retired to tell her mistress. About ten minutes elapsed, and then the
door opened, and a slender figure in widow's weeds stood upon the threshold.
"Monsieur Poirot?" she faltered.
"Madame!" Poirot sprang gallantly to his feet and hastened towards her. "I cannot tell you how I
regret to derange you in this way. But what will you? Les affaires - they know no mercy."
Mrs Maltravers permitted him to lead her to a chair. Her eyes were red with weeping, but the
temporary disfigurement could not conceal her extraordinary beauty. She was about twenty-seven
or -eight, and very fair, with large blue eyes and a pretty pouting mouth.
"It is something about my husband's insurance, is it? But must I be bothered now - so soon?"
"Courage, my dear madame. Courage! You see, your late husband insured his life for rather a
large sum, and in such a case the Company always has to satisfy itself as to a few details. They
have empowered me to act for them. You can rest assured that I will do all in my power to render
the matter not too unpleasant for you. Will you recount to me briefly the sad events of
Wednesday?"
"I was changing for tea when my maid came up - one of the gardeners had just run to the house.
He had found -"
Her voice trailed away. Poirot pressed her hand sympathetically.
"I comprehend. Enough! You had seen your husband earlier in the afternoon?"
"Not since lunch. I had walked down to the village for some stamps, and I believe he was out
pottering round the grounds."
"Shooting rooks, eh?"
"Yes, he usually took his little rook rifle with him, and I heard one or two shots in the distance."
"Where is this little rook rifle now?"
"In the hall, I think."
She led the way out of the room and found and handed the little weapon to Poirot, who examined it
cursorily.
"Two shots fired, I see," he observed, as he handed it back. "And now, madame, if I might see -"
He paused delicately.
"The servant shall take you," she murmured, averting her head.
The parlormaid, summoned, led Poirot upstairs. I remained with the lovely and unfortunate woman.
It was hard to know whether to speak or remain silent. I essayed one or two general reflections to
which she responded absently, and in a very few minutes Poirot rejoined us.
"I thank you for all your courtesy, madame. I do not think you need be troubled any further with this
matter. By the way, do you know anything of your husband's financial position?"
She shook her head.
"Nothing whatever. I am very stupid over business things."
"I see. Then you can give us no clue as to why he suddenly decided to insure his life? He had not
done so previously, I understand."
"Well, we had only been married a little over a year. But, as to why he insured his life, it was
because he had absolutely made up his mind that he would not live long. He had a strong
premonition of his own death. I gather that he had had one hemorrhage already, and that he knew
that another one would prove fatal. I tried to dispel these gloomy fears of his, but without avail.
Alas, he was only too right!"
Tears in her eyes, she bade us a dignified farewell. Poirot made a characteristic gesture as we
walked down the drive together.
"Eh bien, that is that! Back to London, my friend, there appears to be no mouse in this mouse hole.
And yet -"
"Yet what?"
"A slight discrepancy, that is all! You noticed it? You did not? Still, life us full of discrepancies, and
assuredly the man cannot have taken his own life - there is no poison that would fill his mouth with
blood. No, no, I must resign myself to the fact that all is clear and above-board - but who is this?"
A tall young man was striding up the drive towards us. He passed us without making any sign, but I
noted that he was not ill-looking, with a lean, deeply bronzed face that spoke of life in a tropic clime.
A gardener who was sweeping up leaves had paused for a minute in his task, and Poirot ran
quickly up to him.
"Tell me, I pray you, who is that gentleman? Do you know him?"
"I don't remember his name, sir, though I did hear it. He was staying down here last week for a
night. Tuesday, it was."
"Quick, mon ami, let us follow him."
We hastened up the drive after the retreating figure. A glimpse of a black-robed figure on the
terrace at the side of the house, and our quarry swerved and we after him, so that we were
witnesses of the meeting.
Mrs Maltravers almost staggered where she stood, and her face blanched noticeably.
"You," she gasped. "I thought you were on the sea - on your way to East Africa?"
"I got some news from my lawyers that detained me," explained the young man. "My old uncle in
Scotland died unexpectedly and left me some money. Under the circumstances I thought it better to
cancel my passage. Then I saw this bad news in the paper and I came down to see if there was
anything I could do. You'll want some one to look after things for you a bit perhaps."
At that moment they became aware of our presence. Poirot stepped forward, and with many
apologies explained that he had left his stick in the hall. Rather reluctantly, it seemed to me, Mrs
Maltravers made the necessary introduction.
"Monsieur Poirot, Captain Black."
A few minutes' chat ensued, in the course of which Poirot elicited the fact that Captain Black was
putting up at the Anchor Inn. The missing stick not having been discovered (which was not
surprising), Poirot uttered more apologies and we withdrew.
We returned to the village at a great pace, and Poirot made a bee line for the Anchor Inn.
"Here we establish ourselves until our friend the Captain returns," he explained. "You notice that I
emphasized the point that we were returning to London by the first train? Possibly you thought I
meant it. But no - you observed Mrs Maltravers' face when she caught sight of this young Black?
She was clearly taken aback, and he - eh bien, he was very devoted, did you nor think so? And he
was here on Tuesday night - the day before Mr Maltravers died. We must investigate the doings of
Captain Black, Hastings."
In about half an hour we espied our quarry approaching the inn. Poirot went out and accosted him
and presently brought him up to the room we had engaged.
"I have been telling Captain Black of the mission which brings us here," he explained. "You can
understand, monsieur le capitaine, that I am anxious to arrive at Mr Maltravers' state of mind
immediately before his death, and that at the same time I do not wish to distress Mrs Maltravers
unduly by asking her painful questions. Now, you were here just before the occurrence, and can
give us equally valuable information."
"I'll do anything I can to help you, I'm sure," replied the young soldier; "but I'm afraid I didn't notice
anything out of the ordinary. You see, although Maltravers was an old friend of my people's, I didn't
know him very well myself."
"You came down - when?"
"Tuesday afternoon. I went up to town early Wednesday morning, as my boat sailed from Tilbury
about twelve o'clock. But some news I got made me alter my plans, as I dare say you heard me
explain to Mrs Maltravers."
"You were returning to East Africa, I understand?"
"Yes. I've been out there ever since the War - a great country."
"Exactly. Now what was the talk about at dinner on Tuesday night?"
"Oh, I don't know. The usual odd topics. Maltravers asked after my people, and then we discussed
the question of German reparations, and then Mrs Maltravers asked a lot of questions about East
Africa, and I told them one or two yarns, that's about all, I think."
"Thank you."
Poirot was silent for a moment, then he said gently:
"With your permission, I should like to try a little experiment. You have told us all that your
conscious self knows, I want now to question your subconscious self."
"Psychoanalysis, what?" said Black, with visible alarm.
"Oh, no," said Poirot reassuringly. "You see, it is like this, I give you a word, you answer with
another, and so on. Any word, the first one you think of. Shall we begin?"
"All right," said Black slowly, but he looked uneasy.
"Note down the words, please, Hastings," said Poirot. Then he took from his pocket his big turnip-
faced watch and laid it on the table beside him. "We will commence. Day."
There was a moment's pause, and then Black replied:
"Night."
As Poirot proceeded, his answers came quicker.
"Name," said Poirot.
"Place."
"Bernard."
"Shaw."
"Tuesday."
"Dinner."
"Journey."
"Ship."
"Country."
"Uganda."
"Story."
"Lions."
"Rook Rifle."
"Farm."
"Shot."
"Suicide."
"Elephant."
"Tusks."
"Money."
"Lawyers."
"Thank you, Captain Black. Perhaps you could spare me a few minutes in about half an hour's
time?"
"Certainly." The young soldier looked at him curiously and wiped his brow as he got up.
"And now, Hastings," said Poirot, smiling at me as the door closed behind him. "You see it all, do
you not?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"Does that list of words tell you nothing?" I scrutinized it, but was forced to shake my head.
"I will assist you. To begin with, Black answered well within the normal time limit, with no pauses,
so we can take it that he himself has no guilty knowledge to conceal. 'Day' to 'Night' and 'Place' to
'Name' are normal associations. I began work with 'Bernard' which might have suggested the local
doctor had he come across him at all. Evidently he had not. After our recent conversation, he gave
'Dinner' to my 'Tuesday,' but 'Journey' and 'Country' were answered by 'Ship' and 'Uganda,'
showing clearly that it was his journey abroad that was important to him and not the one which
brought him down here. 'Story' recalls to him one of the 'Lion' stories he told at dinner. I proceed to
'Rook Rifle' and he answered with the totally unexpected word 'Farm.' When I say 'Shot,' he
answers at once 'Suicide.' The association seems clear. A man he knows committed suicide with a
rook rifle on a farm somewhere. Remember, too, that his mind is still on the stories he told at
dinner, and I think you will agree that I shall not be far from the truth if I recall Captain Black and
ask him to repeat the particular suicide story which he told at the dinner-table on Tuesday evening."
Black was straightforward enough over the matter.
"Yes, I did tell them that story now that I come to think of it. Chap shot himself on a farm out there.
Did it with a rook rifle through the roof of the mouth, bullet lodged in the brain. Doctors were no end
puzzled over it - there was nothing to show except a little blood on the lips. But what -"
"What has it got to do with Mr Maltravers? You did not know, I see, that he was found with a rook
rifle by his side."
"You mean my story suggested to him - oh, but that is awful!"
"Do not distress yourself - it would have been one way or another. Well, I must get on the
telephone to London."
Poirot had a lengthy conversation over the wire, and came back thoughtful. He went off by himself
in the afternoon, and it was not till seven o'clock that he announced that he could put it off no
longer, but must break the news to the young widow. My sympathy had already gone out to her
unreservedly. To be left penniless, and with the knowledge that her husband had killed himself to
assure her future was a hard burden for any woman to bear. I cherished a secret hope, however,
that young Black might prove capable of consoling her after her first grief had passed. He evidently
admired her enormously.
Our interview with the lady was painful. She refused vehemently to believe the facts that Poirot
advanced, and when she was at last convinced broke down into bitter weeping. An examination of
the body turned our suspicions into certainty. Poirot was very sorry for the poor lady, but, after all,
he was employed by the Insurance Company, and what could he do? As he was preparing to leave
he said gently to Mrs Maltravers:
"Madame, you of all people should know that there are no dead!"
"What do you mean?" she faltered, her eyes growing wide.
"Have you never taken part in any spiritualistic séances? You are mediumistic, you know."
"I have been told so. But you do not believe in Spiritualism, surely?"
"Madame, I have seen some strange things. You know that they say in the village that this house is
haunted?"
She nodded, and at that moment the parlormaid announced that dinner was ready.
"Won't you just stay and have something to eat?"
We accepted gratefully, and I felt that our presence could not but help distract her a little from her
own griefs.
We had just finished our soup, when there was a scream outside the door, and the sound of
breaking crockery. We jumped up. The parlormaid appeared, her hand to her heart.
"It was a man - standing in the passage."
Poirot rushed out, returning quickly.
"There is no one there."
"Isn't there, sir!" said the parlormaid weakly. "Oh, it did give me a start!"
"But why?"
She dropped her voice to a whisper.
"I thought - I thought it was the master - it looked like 'im."
I saw Mrs Maltravers give a terrified start, and my mind flew to the old superstition that a suicide
cannot rest. She thought of it too, I am sure, for a minute later, she caught Poirot's arm with a
scream.
"Didn't you hear that? Those three taps on the window? That's how he always used to tap when he
passed round the house."
"The ivy," I cried. "It was the ivy against the pane."
But a sort of terror was gaining on us all. The parlormaid was obviously unstrung, and when the
meal was over Mrs Maltravers besought Poirot not to go at once. She was clearly terrified to be left
alone. We sat in the little morning-room. The wind was getting up, and moaning round the house in
an eerie fashion. Twice the door of the room carne unlatched and the door slowly opened, and
each time she clung to me with a terrified gasp.
"Ah, but this door, it is bewitched!" cried Poirot angrily at last. He got up and shut it once more, then
turned the key in the lock. "I shall lock it, so!"
"Don't do that," she gasped, "if it should come open now -"
And even as she spoke the impossible happened. The locked door slowly swung open. I could not
see into the passage from where I sat, but she and Poirot were facing it. She gave one long shriek
as she turned to him.
"You saw him - there in the passage!" she cried.
He was staring down at her with a puzzled face, then shook his head.
"I saw him - my husband - you must have seen him too?"
"Madame, I saw nothing. You are not well - unstrung -"
"I am perfectly well, I - Oh, God!"
Suddenly, without any warning, the lights quivered and went out. Out of the darkness carne three
loud raps. I could hear Mrs Maltravers moaning.
And then - I saw!
The man I had seen on the bed upstairs stood there facing us, gleaming with a faint ghostly light.
There was blood on his lips, and he held his right hand out, pointing. Suddenly a brilliant light
seemed to proceed from it. It passed over Poirot and me, and fell on Mrs Maltravers. I saw her
white terrified face, and something else!
"My God, Poirot!" I cried. "Look at her hand, her right hand. It's all red!"
Her own eyes fell on it, and she collapsed in a heap on the floor.
"Blood," she cried hysterically. "Yes, it's blood. I killed him. I did it. He was showing me, and then I
put my hand on the trigger and pressed. Save me from him- s ave me! He's come back!"
Her voice died away in a gurgle.
"Lights," said Poirot briskly.
The lights went on as if by magic.
"That's it," he continued. "You heard, Hastings? And you, Everett? Oh, by the way, this is Mr
Everett, rather a fine member of the theatrical profession. I 'phoned to him this afternoon. His
make-up is good, isn't it? Quite like the dead man, and with a pocket torch and the necessary
phosphorescence he made the proper impression. I shouldn't touch her right hand if I were you,
Hastings. Red paint marks so. When the lights went out I clasped her hand, you see. By the way,
we mustn't miss our train. Inspector Japp is outside the window. A bad night - but he has been able
to while away the time by tapping on the window every now and then."
"You see," continued Poirot, as we walked briskly through the wind and rain, "there was a little
discrepancy. The doctor seemed to think the deceased was a Christian Scientist, and who could
have given him that impression but Mrs Maltravers? But to us she represented him as being in a
grave state of apprehension about his own health. Again, why was she so taken aback by the
reappearance of young Black? And lastly, although I know that convention decrees that a woman
must make a decent pretense of mourning for her husband, I do not care for such heavily-roughed
eyelids! You did not observe them, Hastings? No? As I always tell you, you see nothing!
"Well, there it was. There were the two possibilities. Did Black's story suggest an ingenious method
of committing suicide to Mr Maltravers, or did his other listener, the wife, see an equally ingenious
method of committing murder? I inclined to the latter view. To shoot himself in the way indicated, he
would probably have had to pull the trigger with his toe - or at least so I imagine. Now if Maltravers
had been found with one boot off, we should almost certainly have heard of it from some one. An
odd detail like that would have been remembered.
"No, as I say, I inclined to the view that it was a case of murder, not suicide, but I realized that I had
not a shadow of proof in support of my theory. Hence the elaborate little comedy you saw played
tonight."
"Even now I don't quite see all the details of the crime," I said.
"Let us start from the beginning. Here is a shrewd and scheming woman who, knowing of her
husband's financial débâcle and tired of the elderly mate she has only married for his money,
induces him to insure his life for a large sum, and then seeks for the means to accomplish her
purpose. An accident gives her that - the young soldier's strange story. The next afternoon when
monsieur le capitaine, as she thinks, is on the high seas, she and her husband are strolling round
the grounds. 'What a curious story that was last night!' she observes. 'Could a man shoot himself in
such a way? Do show me if it is possible!' The poor fool - he shows her. He places the end of the
rifle in his mouth. She stoops down, and puts her finger on the trigger, laughing up at him. 'And
now, sir,' she says saucily, 'supposing I pull the trigger?'
"And then - and then, Hastings - she pulls it!"

THE ADVENTURE OF THE CHEAP FLAT

So far, in the cases which I have recorded, Poirot's investigations have started from the central
fact, whether murder or robbery, and have proceeded from thence by a process of logical
deduction to the final triumphant unravelling. In the events I am now about to chronicle, a
remarkable chain of circumstances led from the apparently trivial incidents which first attracted
Poirot's attention to the sinister happenings which completed a most unusual case.
I had been spending the evening with an old friend of mine, Gerald Parker. There had been,
perhaps, about half a dozen people there beside my host and myself, and the talk fell, as it was
bound to do sooner or later wherever Parker found himself, on the subject of house-hunting in
London. Houses and flats were Parker's special hobby. Since the end of the War, he had occupied
at least half a dozen different flats and maisonnettes. No sooner was he settled anywhere than he
would light unexpectedly upon a new find, and would forthwith depart bag and baggage. His moves
were nearly always accomplished at a slight pecuniary gain, for he had a shrewd business head,
but it was sheer love of the sport that actuated him, and not a desire to make money at it. We
listened to Parker for some time with the respect of the novice for the expert. Then it was our turn,
and a perfect babel of tongues was let loose. Finally the floor was left to Mrs Robinson, a charming
little bride who was there with her husband. I had never met them before, as Robinson was only a
recent acquaintance of Parker's.
"Talking of flats," she said, "have you heard of our piece of luck, Mr Parker? We've got a flat - at
last! In Montagu Mansions."
"Well," said Parker, "I've always said there are plenty of flats - at a price!"
"Yes, but this isn't at a price. It's dirt cheap. Eighty pounds a year!"
"But - but Montagu Mansions is just off Knightsbridge, isn't it? Big handsome buildings. Or are you
talking of a poor relation of the same name stuck in the slums somewhere?"
"No, it's the Knightsbridge one. That's what makes it so wonderful."
"Wonderful is the word! It's a blinking miracle. But there must be a catch somewhere. Big premium,
I suppose?"
"No premium!"
"No prem- oh, hold my head, somebody!" groaned Parker.
"But we've got to buy the furniture," continued Mrs Robinson.
"Ah!" Parker brisked up. "I knew there was a catch!"
"For fifty pounds. And it's beautifully furnished!"
"I give it up," said Parker. "The present occupants must be lunatics with a taste for philanthropy."
Mrs Robinson was looking a little troubled. A little pucker appeared between her dainty brows.
"It is queer, isn't it? You don't think that - that - the place is haunted?"
"Never heard of a haunted flat," declared Parker decisively.
"N-o." Mrs Robinson appeared far from convinced. "But there were several things about it all that
struck me as - well, queer."
"For instance -" I suggested.
"Ah," said Parker, "our criminal expert's attention is aroused! Unburden yourself to him, Mrs
Robinson. Hastings is a great unraveler of mysteries."
I laughed, embarrassed but not wholly displeased with the rôle thrust upon me.
"Oh, not really queer, Captain Hastings, but when we went to the agents, Stasser and Paul - we
hadn't tried them before because they only have the expensive Mayfair flats, but we thought at any
rate it would do no harm - everything they offered us was four and five hundred a year, or else
huge premiums, and then, just as we were going, they mentioned that they had a flat at eighty, but
that they doubted if it would be any good our going there, because it had been on their books some
time and they had sent so many people to see it that it was almost sure to be taken - 'snapped up'
as the clerk put it - only people were so tiresome in not letting them know, and then they went on
sending, and people get annoyed at being sent to a place that had, perhaps, been let some time."
Mrs Robinson paused for some much needed breath, and then continued:
"We thanked him, and said that we quite understood it would probably be no good, but that we
should like an order all the same - just in case. And we went there straightaway in a taxi, for, after
all, you never know. No. 4 was on the second floor, and just as we were waiting for the lift, Elsie
Ferguson - she's a friend of mine, Captain Hastings, and they are looking for a flat too - came
hurrying down the stairs. 'Ahead of you for once, my dear,' she said. 'But it's no good. It's already
let.' That seemed to finish it, but - well, as John said, the place was very cheap, we could afford to
give more, and perhaps if we offered a premium - A horrid thing to do, of course, and I feel quite
ashamed of telling you, but you know what flat-hunting is."
I assured her that I was well aware that in the struggle for house-room the baser side of human
nature frequently triumphed over the higher, and that the well-known rule of dog eat dog always
applied.
"So we went up and, would you believe it, the flat wasn't let at all. We were shown over it by the
maid, and then we saw the mistress, and the thing was settled then and there. Immediate
possession and fifty pounds for the furniture. We signed the agreement next day, and we are to
move in tomorrow!" Mrs Robinson paused triumphantly.
"And what about Mrs Ferguson?" asked Parker. "Let's have your deductions, Hastings."
"'Obvious, my dear Watson,'" I quoted lightly. "She went to the wrong flat."
"Oh, Captain Hastings, how clever of you!" cried Mrs Robinson admiringly.
I rather wished Poirot had been there. Some times I have the feeling that he rather underestimates
my capabilities.

The whole thing was rather amusing, and I propounded the thing as a mock problem to Poirot on
the following morning. He seemed interested, and questioned me rather narrowly as to the rents of
flats in various localities.
"A curious story," he said thoughtfully. "Excuse me, Hastings, I must take a short stroll."
When he returned, about an hour later, his eyes were gleaming with a peculiar excitement. He laid
his stick on the table, and brushed the nap of his hat with his usual tender care before he spoke.
"It is as well, mon ami, that we have no affairs of moment on hand. We can devote ourselves
wholly to the present investigation."
"What investigation are you talking about?"
"The remarkable cheapness of your friend's, Mrs Robinson's, new flat."
"Poirot, you are not serious!"
"I am most serious. Figure to yourself, my friend, that the real rent of those flats is £350. I have just
ascertained that from the landlord's agents. And yet this particular flat is being sublet at eighty
pounds! Why?"
"There must be something wrong with it. Perhaps it is haunted, as Mrs Robinson suggested."
Poirot shook his head in a dissatisfied manner.
"Then again how curious it is that her friend tells her the flat is let, and, when she goes up, behold,
it is not so at all!"
"But surely you agree with me that the other woman must have gone to the wrong flat. That is the
only possible solution."
"You may or may not be right on that point, Hastings. The fact still remains that numerous other
applicants were sent to see it, and yet, in spite of its remarkable cheapness, it was still in the
market when Mrs Robinson arrived."
"That shows that there must be something wrong about it."
"Mrs Robinson did not seem to notice anything amiss. Very curious, is it not? Did she impress you
as being a truthful woman, Hastings?"
"She was a delightful creature!"
"Évidemment! since she renders you incapable of replying to my question. Describe her to me,
then."
"Well, she's tall and fair; her hair's really a beautiful shade of auburn -"
"Always you have had a penchant for auburn hair!" murmured Poirot. "But continue."
"Blue eyes and a very nice complexion and - well, that's all, I think," I concluded lamely.
"And her husband?"
"Oh, he's quite a nice fellow - nothing startling."
"Dark or fair?"
"I don't know - betwixt and between, and just an ordinary sort of face."
Poirot nodded.
"Yes, there are hundreds of these average men - and, anyway, you bring more sympathy and
appreciation to your description of women. Do you know anything about these people? Does
Parker know them well?"
"They are just recent acquaintances, I believe. But surely, Poirot, you don't think for an instant -"
Poirot raised his hand.
"Tout doucement, mon ami. Have I said that I think anything? All I say is - it is a curious story. And
there is nothing to throw light upon it; except perhaps the lady's name, eh, Hastings!"
"Her name is Stella," I said stiffly, "but I don't see -"
Poirot interrupted me with a tremendous chuckle. Something seemed to be amusing him vastly.
"And Stella means a star, does it not? Famous!"
"What on earth -"
"And stars give light! Voilà! Calm yourself, Hastings. Do not put on that air of injured dignity. Come,
we will go to Montagu Mansions and make a few inquiries."
I accompanied him, nothing loath. The Mansions were a handsome block of buildings in excellent
repair. A uniformed porter was sunning himself on the threshold, and it was to him that Poirot
addressed himself:
"Pardon, but could you tell me if a Mr and Mrs Robinson reside here?"
The porter was a man of few words and apparently of a sour or suspicious disposition. He hardly
looked at us and grunted out:
"No. 4. Second floor."
"I thank you. Can you tell me how long they have been here?"
"Six months."
I started forward in amazement, conscious as I did so of Poirot's malicious grin.
"Impossible," I cried. "You must be making a mistake."
"Six months."
"Are you sure? The lady I mean is tall and fair with reddish gold hair and -"
"That's 'er," said the porter. "Come in the Michaelmas quarter, they did. Just six months ago."
He appeared to lose interest in us and retreated slowly up the hall. I followed Poirot outside.
"Eh bien, Hastings?" my friend demanded slyly. "Are you so sure now that delightful women always
speak the truth?"
I did not reply.
Poirot had steered his way into Brompton Road before I asked him what he was going to do and
where we were going.
"To the house agents, Hastings. I have a great desire to have a flat in Montagu Mansions. If I am
not mistaken, several interesting things will take place there before long."
We were fortunate in our quest. No. 8. on the fourth floor, was to be let furnished at ten guineas a
week. Poirot promptly took it for a month. Outside in the street again, he silenced my protests:
"But I make money nowadays! Why should I not indulge a whim? By the way, Hastings, have you a
revolver?"
"Yes - somewhere," I answered, slightly thrilled. "Do you think -"
"That you will need it? It is quite possible. The idea pleases you, I see. Always the spectacular and
romantic appeal to you."
The following day saw us installed in our temporary home. The flat was pleasantly furnished. It
occupied the same position in the building as that of the Robinsons, but was two floors higher.
The day after our installation was a Sunday. In the afternoon, Poirot left the front door ajar, and
summoned me hastily as a bang reverberated from somewhere below.
"Look over the banisters. Are those your friends? Do not let them see you."
I craned my neck over the staircase.
"That's them," I declared in an ungrammatical whisper.
"Good. Wait awhile."
About half an hour later, a young woman emerged in brilliant and varied clothing. With a sigh of
satisfaction, Poirot tiptoed back into the flat.
"C'est ça. After the master and mistress, the maid. The flat should now be empty."
"What are we going to do?" I asked uneasily.
Poirot had trotted briskly into the scullery and was hauling at the rope of the coal-lift.
"We are about to descend after the method of the dustbins," he explained cheerfully. "No one will
observe us. The Sunday concert, the Sunday 'afternoon out,' and finally the Sunday nap after the
Sunday dinner of England - le rosbif - all these will distract attention from the doings of Hercule
Poirot. Come, my friend."
He stepped into the rough wooden contrivance and I followed him gingerly.
"Are we going to break into the flat?" I asked dubiously.
Poirot's answer was not too reassuring:
"Not precisely today," he replied.
Pulling on the rope, we descended slowly till we reached the second floor. Poirot uttered an
exclamation of satisfaction as he perceived that the wooden door into the scullery was open.
"You observe? Never do they bolt these doors in the daytime. And yet anyone could mount or
descend as we have done. At night yes - though not always then - and it is against that that we are
going to make provision."
He had drawn some tools from his pocket as he spoke, and at once set deftly to work, his object
being to arrange the bolt so that it could be pulled back from the lift.
The operation only occupied about three minutes. Then Poirot returned the tools to his pocket, and
we reascended once more to our own domain.

On Monday Poirot was out all day, but when he returned in the evening he flung himself into his
chair with a sigh of satisfaction.
"Hastings, shall I recount to you a little history? A story after your own heart and which will remind
you of your favorite cinema?"
"Go ahead," I laughed. "I presume that it is a true story, not one of your efforts of fancy."
"It is true enough. Inspector Japp of Scotland Yard will vouch for its accuracy, since it was through
his kind offices that it came to my ears. Listen, Hastings. A little over six months ago some
important Naval plans were stolen from an American Government department. They showed the
position of some of the most important Harbor defenses, and would be worth a considerable sum to
any foreign Government - that of Japan, for example. Suspicion fell upon a young man named Luigi
Valdarno, an Italian by birth, who was employed in a minor capacity in the Department and who
was missing at the same time as the papers. Whether Luigi Valdarno was the thief or not, he was
found two days later on the East Side in New York, shot dead. The papers were not on him. Now
for some time past Luigi Valdarno had been going about with a Miss Elsa Hardt, a young concert
singer who had recently appeared and who lived with a brother in an apartment in Washington.
Nothing was known of the antecedents of Miss Elsa Hardt, and she disappeared suddenly about
the time of Valdarno's death. There are reasons for believing that she was in reality an
accomplished international spy who has done much nefarious work under various aliases. The
American Secret Service, whilst doing their best to trace her, also kept an eye upon certain
insignificant Japanese gentlemen living in Washington. They felt pretty certain that, when Elsa
Hardt had covered her tracks sufficiently, she would approach the gentlemen in question. One of
them left suddenly for England a fortnight ago. On the face of it, therefore, it would seem that Elsa
Hardt is in England." Poirot paused, and then added softly: "The official description of Elsa Hardt is:
Height 5 ft. 7, eyes blue, hair auburn, fair complexion, nose straight, no special distinguishing
marks."
"Mrs Robinson!" I gasped.
"Well, there is a chance of it, anyhow," amended Poirot. "Also, I learn that a swarthy man, a
foreigner of some kind, was inquiring about the occupants of No. 4 only this morning. Therefore,
mon ami, I fear that you must forswear your beauty sleep tonight, and join me in my all-night vigil in
the flat below - armed with that excellent revolver of yours, bien entendu!"
"Rather," I cried with enthusiasm. "When shall we start?"
"The hour of midnight is both solemn and suitable, I fancy. Nothing is likely to occur before then."
At twelve o'clock precisely, we crept cautiously into the coal-lift and lowered ourselves to the
second floor. Under Poirot's manipulation, the wooden door quickly swung inwards, and we
climbed into the flat. From the scullery we passed into the kitchen where we established ourselves
comfortably in two chairs with the door into the hall ajar.
"Now we have but to wait," said Poirot contentedly, closing his eyes.
To me, the waiting appeared endless. I was terrified of going to sleep. Just when it seemed to me
that I had been there about eight hours - and had, as I found out afterwards, in reality been exactly
one hour and twenty minutes - a faint scratching sound came to my ears. Poirot's hand touched
mine. I rose, and together we moved carefully in the direction of the hall. The noise came from
there. Poirot placed his lips to my ear.
"Outside the front door. They are cutting out the lock. When I give the word, not before, fall upon
from him from behind and hold him fast. Be careful, he will have a knife."
Presently there was a rending sound, and a little circle of light appeared through the door. It was
extinguished immediately and then the door was slowly opened. Poirot and I flattened ourselves
against the wall. I heard a man's breathing as he passed us. Then he flashed on his torch, and as
he did so, Poirot hissed in my ear:
"Allez."
We sprang together, Poirot with a quick movement enveloped the intruder's head with a light
woolen scarf whilst I pinioned his arms. The whole affair was quick and noiseless. I twisted a
dagger from his hand, and as Poirot brought down the scarf from his eyes, whilst keeping it would
tightly round his mouth, I jerked up my revolver where he could see it and understand that
resistance was useless. As he ceased to struggle Poirot put his mouth close to his ear and began
to whisper rapidly. After a minute the man nodded. Then enjoining silence with a movement of the
hand, Poirot led the way out of the flat and down the stairs. Our captive followed, and I brought up
the rear with the revolver. When we were out in the street, Poirot turned to me.
"There is a taxi waiting just round the corner. Give me the revolver. We shall not need it now."
"But if this fellow tries to escape?"
Poirot smiled.
"He will not."
I returned in a minute with the waiting taxi. The scarf had been unwound from the stranger's face,
and I gave a start of surprise.
"He's not a Jap," I ejaculated in a whisper to Poirot.
"Observation was always your strong point, Hastings! Nothing escapes you. No, the man is not a
Jap. He is an Italian."
We got into the taxi, and Poirot gave the driver an address in St John's Wood. I was by now
completely fogged. I did not like to ask Poirot where we were going in front of our captive, and
strove in vain to obtain some light upon the proceedings.
We alighted at the door of a small house standing back from the road. A returning wayfarer, slightly
drunk, was lurching along the pavement and almost collided with Poirot, who said something
sharply to him which I did not catch. All three of us went up the steps of the house. Poirot rang the
bell and motioned us to stand a little aside. There was no answer and he rang again and then
seized the knocker which he plied for some minutes vigorously.
A light appeared suddenly above the fanlight, and the door was opened cautiously a little way.
"What the devil do you want?" a man's voice demanded harshly.
"I want the doctor. My wife is taken ill."
"There's no doctor here."
The man prepared to shut the door, but Poirot thrust his foot in adroitly. He became suddenly a
perfect caricature of an infuriated Frenchman.
"What you say, there is no doctor? I will have the law of you. You must come! I will stay here and
ring and knock all night."
"My dear sir -" The door was opened again, the man, clad in a dressing-gown and slippers, stepped
forward to pacify Poirot with an uneasy glance round.
"I will call the police."
Poirot prepared to descend the steps.
"No, don't do that for Heaven's sake!" The man dashed after him.
With a neat push Poirot sent him staggering down the steps. In another minute all three of us were
inside the door and it was pushed to and bolted.
"Quick - in here." Poirot led the way into the nearest room switching on the light as he did so. "And
you - behind the curtain."
"Si, signor," said the Italian and slid rapidly behind the full folds of rose-colored velvet which draped
the embrasure of the window.
Not a minute too soon. Just as he disappeared from view a woman rushed into the room. She was
tall with reddish hair and held a scarlet kimono round her slender form.
"Where is my husband?" she cried, with a quick frightened glance. "Who are you?"
Poirot stepped forward with a bow.
"It is to be hoped your husband will not suffer from a chill. I observed that he had slippers on his
feet, and that his dressing-gown was a warm one."
"Who are you? What are you doing in my house?"
"It is true that none of us have the pleasure of your acquaintance, madame. It is especially to be
regretted as one of our number has come specially from New York in order to meet you."
The curtains parted and the Italian stepped out. To my horror I observed that he was brandishing
my revolver, which Poirot must doubtless have put down through inadvertence in the cab.
The woman gave a piercing scream and turned to fly, but Poirot was standing in front of the closed
door.
"Let me by," she shrieked. "He will murder me."
"Who was it dat croaked Luigi Valdarno?" asked the Italian hoarsely, brandishing the weapon, and
sweeping each one of us with it. We dared not move.
"My God, Poirot, this is awful. What shall we do?" I cried.
"You will oblige me by refraining from talking so much, Hastings. I can assure you that our friend
will not shoot until I give the word."
"Youse sure o' dat, eh?" said the Italian leering unpleasantly.
It was more than I was, but the woman turned to Poirot like a flash.
"What is it you want?"
Poirot bowed.
"I do not think it is necessary to insult Miss Elsa Hardt's intelligence by telling her."
With a swift movement, the woman snatched up a big black velvet cat which served as a cover for
the telephone.
"They are stitched in the lining of that."
"Clever," murmured Poirot appreciatively. He stood aside from the door. "Good evening, madame. I
will detain your friend from New York whilst you make your getaway."
"Whatta fool!" roared the big Italian. and raising the revolver he fired point-blank at the woman's
retreating figure just as I flung myself upon him.
But the weapon merely clicked harmlessly and Poirot's voice rose in mild reproof.
"Never will you trust your old friend, Hastings. I do not care for my friends to carry loaded pistols
about with them and never would I permit a mere acquaintance to do so. No, no, mon ami." This to
the Italian who was swearing hoarsely. Poirot continued to address him in a tone of mild reproof:
"See now, what I have done for you. I have saved you from being hanged. And do not think that our
beautiful lady will escape. No, no, the house is watched, back and front. Straight into the arms of
the police they will go. Is not that a beautiful and consoling thought? Yes, you may leave the room
now. But be careful - be very careful. I - Ah, he is gone! And my friend Hastings looks at me with
eyes of reproach. But it was all so simple! It was clear, from the first, that out of several hundred,
probably, applicants for No. 4, Montagu Mansions only the Robinsons were considered suitable.
Why? What was there that singled them out from the rest - at practically a glance? Their
appearance? Possibly, but it was not so unusual. Their name, then!"
"But there's nothing unusual about the name of Robinson," I cried. "It's quite a common name."
"Ah! Sapristi, but exactly! That was the point. Elsa Hardt and her husband, or brother or whatever
he really is, come from New York, and take a flat in the name of Mr and Mrs Robinson. Suddenly
they learn that one of these secret societies, the Mafia, or the Camorra, to which doubtless Luigi
Valdarno belonged, is on their track. What do they do! They hit on a scheme of transparent
simplicity. Evidently they knew that their pursuers were not personally acquainted with either of
them. What then can be simpler? They offer the flat at an absurdly low rental. Of the thousands of
young couples in London looking for flats, there cannot fail to be several Robinsons. It is only a
matter of waiting. If you will look at the name of Robinson in the telephone directory, you will realize
that a fair-haired Mrs Robinson was pretty sure to come along sooner or later. Then what will
happen? The avenger arrives. He knows the name, he knows the address. He strikes! All is over,
vengeance is satisfied, and Miss Elsa Hardt has escaped by the skin of her teeth once more. By
the way, Hastings, you must present me to the real Mrs Robinson - that delightful and truthful
creature! What will they think when they find their flat has been broken into! We must hurry back.
Ah, that sounds like Japp and his friends arriving."
A mighty tattoo sounded on the knocker.
"How did you know this address?" I asked as I followed Poirot out into the hall. "Oh, of course, you
had the first Mrs Robinson followed when she left the other flat."
"A la bonne heure, Hastings. You use your gray cells at last. Now for a little surprise for Japp."
Softly unbolting the door, he stuck the cat's head round the edge and ejaculated a piercing
"Miaow."
The Scotland Yard inspector, who was standing outside with another man, jumped in spite of
himself.
"Oh, it's only Monsieur Poirot at one of his little jokes!" he exclaimed, as Poirot's head followed that
of the cat. "Let us in, moosior."
"You have our friends safe and sound?"
"Yes, we've got the birds all right. But they hadn't got the goods with them."
"I see. So you come to search. Well, I am about to depart with Hastings, but I should like to give
you a little lecture upon the history and habits of the domestic cat."
"For the Lord's sake, have you gone completely balmy?"
"The cat," declaimed Poirot, "was worshiped by the ancient Egyptians. It is still regarded as a
symbol of good luck if a black cat crosses your path. This cat crossed your path tonight, Japp. To
speak of the interior of any animal or any person is not, I know, considered polite in England. But
the interior of this cat is perfectly delicate. I refer to the lining."
With a sudden grunt, the second man seized the cat from Poirot's hand.
"Oh, I forgot to introduce you," said Japp. "Mr Poirot, this is Mr Burr of the United States Secret
Service."
The American's trained fingers had felt what he was looking for. He held out his hand, and for a
moment speech failed him. Then he rose to the occasion.
"Pleased to meet you," said Mr Burr.

THE MYSTERY OF HUNTER'S LODGE

"After all," murmured Poirot, "it is possible that I shall not die this time."
Coming from a convalescent influenza patient, I hailed the remark as showing a beneficial
optimism. I myself had been the first sufferer from the disease. Poirot in his turn had gone down.
He was now sitting up in bed, propped up with pillows, his head muffled in a woolen shawl, and
was slowly sipping a particularly noxious tisane which I had prepared according to his directions.
His eye rested with pleasure upon a neatly graduated row of medicine bottles which adorned the
mantelpiece.
"Yes, yes," my little friend continued. "Once more shall I be myself again, the great Hercule Poirot,
the terror of evil-doers! Figure to yourself, mon ami, that I have a little paragraph to myself in
Society Gossip. But yes! Here it is! 'Go it - criminals - all out! Hercule Poirot - and believe me, girls,
he's some Hercules! - our own pet society detective can't get a grip on you. 'Cause why? 'Cause
he's got la grippe himself'!"
I laughed.
"Good for you, Poirot. You are becoming quite a public character. And fortunately you haven't
missed anything of particular interest during this time."
"That is true. The few cases I have had to decline did not fill me with any regret."
Our landlady stuck her head in at the door.
"There's a gentleman downstairs. Says he must see Monsieur Poirot or you, Captain. Seeing as he
was in a great to-do - and with all that quite the gentleman - I brought up 'is card."
She handed me the bit of pasteboard. "Mr Roger Havering," I read.
Poirot motioned with his head towards the bookcase, and I obediently pulled forth "Who's Who."
Poirot took it from me and scanned the pages rapidly.
"Second son of fifth Baron Windsor. Married 1913 Zoe, fourth daughter of William Crabb."
"H'm!" I said. "I rather fancy that's the girl who used to act at the Frivolity - only she called herself
Zoe Carrisbrook. I remember she married some young man about town just before the War."
"Would it interest you, Hastings, to go down and hear what our visitor's particular little trouble is?
Make him all my excuses."
Roger Havering was a man of about forty, well set up and of smart appearance. His face, however,
was haggard, and he was evidently laboring under great agitation.
"Captain Hastings? You are Monsieur Poirot's partner, I understand. It is imperative that he should
come with me to Derbyshire today."
"I'm afraid that's impossible," I responded. "Poirot is ill in bed - influenza."
His face fell.
"Dear me, that is a great blow to me."
"The matter on which you want to consult him is serious?"
"My God, yes! My uncle, the best friend I have in the world, was foully murdered last night."
"Here in London?"
"No, in Derbyshire. I was in town and received a telegram from my wife this morning. Immediately
upon its receipt I determined to come round and beg Monsieur Poirot to undertake the case."
"If you will excuse me a minute," I said, struck by a sudden idea.
I rushed upstairs, and in a few brief words acquainted Poirot with the situation. He took any further
words out of my mouth.
"I see. I see. You want to go yourself, is it not so? Well, why not? You should know my methods by
now. All I ask is that you should report to me fully every day, and follow implicitly any instructions I
may wire you."
To this I willingly agreed.

An hour later I was sitting opposite Mr Havering in a first-class carriage on the Midland Railway,
speeding rapidly away from London.
"To begin with, Captain Hastings, you must understand that Hunter's Lodge, where we are going,
and where the tragedy took place, is only a small shooting-box in the heart of the Derbyshire
moors. Our real home is near Newmarket, and we usually rent a flat in town for the season.
Hunter's Lodge is looked after by a housekeeper who is quite capable of doing all we need when
we run down for an occasional week-end. Of course, during the shooting season, we take down
some of our own servants from Newmarket. My uncle, Mr Harrington Pace (as you may know, my
mother was a Miss Pace of New York), has, for the last three years, made his home with us. He
never got on well with my father, or my elder brother, and I suspect that my being somewhat of a
prodigal son myself rather increased than diminished his affection towards me. Of course I am a
poor man, and my uncle was a rich one - in other words, he paid the piper! But, though exacting in
many ways, he was not really hard to get on with, and we all three lived very harmoniously
together. Two days ago my uncle, rather wearied with some recent gayeties of ours in town,
suggested that we should run down to Derbyshire for a day or two. My wife telegraphed to Mrs
Middleton, the housekeeper, and we went down that same afternoon. Yesterday evening I was
forced to return to town, but my wife and my uncle remained on. This morning I received this
telegram."
He handed it over to me:

"Come at once uncle Harrington murdered last night bring good detective if you can but do come -
Zoe."

"Then, as yet you know no details?"

"No, I suppose it will be in the evening papers. Without doubt the police are in charge."
It was about three o'clock when we arrived at the little station of Elmer's Dale. From there a five-
mile drive brought us to a small gray stone building in the midst of the rugged moors.
"A lonely place," I observed with a shiver.
Havering nodded.
"I shall try and get rid of it. I could never live here again."
We unlatched the gate and were walking up the narrow path to the oak door when a familiar figure
emerged and came to meet us.
"Japp!" I ejaculated.
The Scotland Yard inspector grinned at me in a friendly fashion before addressing my companion.
"Mr Havering, I think? I've been sent down from London to take charge of this case, and I'd like a
word with you, if I may, sir."
"My wife -"
"I've seen your good lady, sir - and the housekeeper. I won't keep you a moment, but I'm anxious to
get back to the village now that I've seen all there is to see here."
"I know nothing as yet as to what -"
"Exactly," said Japp soothingly. "But there are just one or two little points I'd like your opinion about
all the same. Captain Hastings here, he knows me, and he'll go on up to the house and tell them
you're coming. What have you done with the little man, by the way, Captain Hastings?"
"He's ill in bed with influenza."
"Is he now? I'm sorry to hear that. Rather the case of the cart without the horse, your being here
without him, isn't it?"
And on his rather ill-timed jest I went on to the house. I rang the bell, as Japp had closed the door
behind him. After some moments it was opened to me by a middle-aged woman in black.
"Mr Havering will be here in a moment," I explained. "He has been detained by the inspector. I have
come down with him from London to look into the case. Perhaps you can tell me briefly what
occurred last night."
"Come inside, sir." She closed the door behind me, and we stood in the dimly-lighted hall. "It was
after dinner last night, sir, that the man came. He asked to see Mr Pace, sir, and, seeing that he
spoke the same way, I thought it was an American gentleman friend of Mr Pace's and I showed him
into the gun-room, and then went to tell Mr Pace. He wouldn't give any name, which, of course,
was a bit odd, now I come to think of it. I told Mr Pace, and he seemed puzzled like, but he said to
the mistress: 'Excuse me, Zoe, while I just see what this fellow wants.' He went off to the gun-room,
and I went back to the kitchen, but after a while I heard loud voices, as if they were quarrelling, and
I came out into the hall. At the same time, the mistress she comes out too, and just then there was
a shot and then a dreadful silence. We both ran to the gun-room door, but it was locked and we
had to go round to the window. It was open, and there inside was Mr Pace, all shot and bleeding."
"What became of the man?"
"He must have got away through the window, sir, before we got to it."
"And then?"
"Mrs Havering sent me to fetch the police. Five miles to walk it was. They came back with me, and
the constable he stayed all night, and this morning the police gentleman from London arrived."
"What was this man like who called to see Mr Pace?"
The housekeeper reflected.
"He had a black beard, sir, and was about middle-aged, and had on a light overcoat. Beyond the
fact that he spoke like an American I didn't notice much about him."
"I see. Now I wonder if I can see Mrs Havering?"
"She's upstairs, sir. Shall I tell her?"
"If you please. Tell her that Mr Havering is outside with Inspector Japp, and that the gentleman he
has brought back with him from London is anxious to speak to her as soon as possible."
"Very good, sir."
I was in a fever of impatience to get at all the facts. Japp had two or three hours' start of me, and
his anxiety to be gone made me keen to be close at his heels.
Mrs Havering did not keep me waiting long. In a few minutes I heard a light step descending the
stairs, and looked up to see a very handsome young woman coming towards me. She wore a
flame-colored jumper, that set off the slender boyishness of her figure. On her dark head was a
little hat of flame-colored leather. Even the present tragedy could not dim the vitality of her
personality. I introduced myself, and she nodded in quick comprehension.
"Of course I have often heard of you and your colleague, Monsieur Poirot. You have done some
wonderful things together, haven't you? It was very clever of my husband to get you so promptly.
Now will you ask me questions? That is the easiest way, isn't it, of getting to know all you want to
about this dreadful affair?"
"Thank you, Mrs Havering. Now what time was it that this man arrived?"
"It must have been just before nine o'clock. We had finished dinner, and were sitting over our
coffee and cigarettes."
"Your husband had already left for London?"
"Yes, he went up by the 6:15."
"Did he go by car to the station, or did he walk?"
"Our own car isn't down here. One came out from the garage in Elmer's Dale to fetch him in time
for the train."
"Was Mr Pace quite his usual self?"
"Absolutely. Most normal in every way."
"Now, can you describe this visitor at all?"
"I'm afraid not. I didn't see him. Mrs Middleton showed him straight into the gun-room and then
came to tell my uncle."
"What did your uncle say?"
"He seemed rather annoyed, but went off at once. It was about five minutes later that I heard the
sound of raised voices. I ran out into the hall and almost collided with Mrs Middleton. Then we
heard the shot. The gun-room door was locked on the inside, and we had to go right round the
house to the window. Of course that took some time, and the murderer had been able to get well
away. My poor uncle -" her voice faltered - "had been shot through the head. I saw at once that he
was dead. I sent Mrs Middleton for the police. I was careful to touch nothing in the room but to
leave it exactly as I found it."
I nodded approval.
"Now, as to the weapon?"
"Well, I can make a guess at it, Captain Hastings. A pair of revolvers of my husband's were
mounted upon the wall. One of them is missing. I pointed this out to the police, and they took the
other one away with them. When they have extracted the bullet, I suppose they will know for
certain."
"May I go to the gun-room?"
"Certainly. The police have finished with it. But the body has been removed."
She accompanied me to the scene of the crime. At that moment Havering entered the hall, and with
a quick apology his wife ran to him. I was left to undertake my investigations alone.
I may as well confess at once that they were rather disappointing. In detective novels clues
abound, but here I could find nothing that struck me as out of the ordinary except a large bloodstain
on the carpet where I judged the dead man had fallen. I examined everything with painstaking care
and took a couple of pictures of the room with my little camera which I had brought with me. I also
examined the ground outside the window, but it appeared to have been so heavily trampled
underfoot that I judged it was useless to waste time over it. No, I had seen all that Hunter's Lodge
had to show me. I must go back to Elmer's Dale and get into touch with Japp. Accordingly I took
leave of the Haverings, and was driven off in the car that had brought us up from the station.
I found Japp at the Matlock Arms and he took me forthwith to see the body. Harrington Pace was a
small, spare clean-shaven man, typically American in appearance. He had been shot through the
back of the head, and the revolver had been discharged at close quarters.
"Turned away for a moment," remarked Japp, "and the other fellow snatched up a revolver and
shot him. The one Mrs Havering handed over to us was fully loaded and I suppose the other one
was also. Curious what darn fool things people do. Fancy keeping two loaded revolvers hanging up
on your wall."
"What do you think of the case?" I asked, as we left the gruesome chamber behind us.
"Well, I'd got my eye on Havering to begin with. Oh, yes!" noting my exclamation of astonishment.
"Havering has one or two shady incidents in his past. When he was a boy at Oxford there was
some funny business about the signature on one of his father's checks. All hushed up of course.
Then, he's pretty heavily in debt now, and they're the kind of debts he wouldn't like to go to his
uncle about, whereas you may be sure the uncle's will would be in his favor. Yes, I'd got my eye on
him, and that's why I wanted to speak to him before he saw his wife, but their statements dovetail
all right, and I've been to the station and there's no doubt whatever that he left by the 6:15. That
gets up to London about 10:30. He went straight to his club, he says, and if that's confirmed all right
- why, he couldn't have been shooting his uncle here at nine o'clock in a black beard!"
"Ah, yes, I was going to ask you what you thought about that beard?"
Japp winked.
"I think it grew pretty fast - grew in the five miles from Elmer's Dale to Hunter's Lodge. Americans
that I've met are mostly clean-shaven. Yes, it's amongst Mr Pace's American associates that we'll
have to look for the murderer. I questioned the housekeeper first, and then her mistress, and their
stories agree all right, but I'm sorry Mrs Havering didn't get a look at the fellow. She's a smart
woman, and she might have noticed something that would set us on the track."
I sat down and wrote a minute and lengthy account to Poirot. I was able to add various further
items of information before I posted the letter.
The bullet had been extracted and was proved to have been fired from a revolver identical with the
one held by the police. Furthermore, Mr Havering's movements on the night in question had been
checked and verified, and it was proved beyond doubt that he had actually arrived in London by the
train in question. And, thirdly, a sensational development had occurred. A city gentleman, living at
Ealing, on crossing Haven Green to get to the District Railway Station that morning, had observed
a brown-paper parcel stuck between the railings. Opening it, he found that it contained a revolver.
He handed the parcel over to the local police station, and before night it was proved to be the one
we were in search of, the fellow to that given us by Mrs Havering. One bullet had been fired from it.
All this I added to my report. A wire from Poirot arrived whilst I was at breakfast the following
morning:

"Of course black bearded man was not Havering only you or Japp would have such an idea wire
me description of housekeeper and what clothes she wore this morning same of Mrs Havering do
not waste time taking photographs of interiors they are underexposed and not in the least artistic."

It seemed to me that Poirot's style was unnecessarily facetious. I also fancied he was a shade
jealous of my position on the spot with full facilities for handling the case. His request for a
description of the clothes worn by the two women appeared to me to be simply ridiculous, but I
complied as well as I, a mere man, was able to.
At eleven a reply wire came from Poirot:

"Advise Japp arrest housekeeper before it is too late."

Dumbfounded, I took the wire to Japp. He swore softly under his breath.
"He's the goods, Monsieur Poirot! If he says so, there's something in it. And I hardly noticed the
woman. I don't know that I can go so far as arresting her, but I'll have her watched. We'll go up right
away, and take another look at her."
But it was too late. Mrs Middleton, that quiet middle-aged woman, who had appeared so normal
and respectable, had vanished into thin air. Her box had been left behind. It contained only ordinary
wearing apparel. There was no clue in it to her identity or as to her whereabouts.
From Mrs Havering we elicited all the facts we could:
"I engaged her about three weeks ago when Mrs Emery, our former housekeeper, left. She came
to me from Mrs Selbourne's Agency in Mount Street - a very well-known place. I get all my servants
from there. They sent several women to see me, but this Mrs Middleton seemed much the nicest,
and had splendid references. I engaged her on the spot, and notified the Agency of the fact. I can't
believe that there was anything wrong with her. She was such a nice quiet woman."
The thing was certainly a mystery. Whilst it was clear that the woman herself could not have
committed the crime, since at the moment the shot was fired Mrs Havering was with her in the hall,
nevertheless she must have some connection with the murder, or why should she suddenly take to
her heels and bolt?
I wired the latest development to Poirot and suggested returning to London and making inquiries at
Selbourne's Agency.

Poirot's reply was prompt:

"Useless to inquire at agency they will never have heard of her find out what vehicle took her up to
hunters lodge when she first arrived there."

Though mystified, I was obedient. The means of transport in Elmer's Dale were limited. The local
garage had two battered Ford cars, and there were two station flies.
None of these had been requisitioned on the date in question. Questioned, Mrs Havering explained
that she had given the woman the money for her fare down to Derbyshire and sufficient to hire a
car or fly to take her up to Hunter's Lodge. There was usually one of the Fords at the station on the
chance of its being required. Taking into consideration the further fact that nobody at the station
had noticed the arrival of a stranger, black-bearded or otherwise, on the fatal evening, everything
seemed to point to the conclusion that the murderer had come to the spot in a car, which had been
waiting near at hand to aid his escape, and that the same car had brought the mysterious
housekeeper to her new post. I may mention that inquiries at the Agency in London bore out
Poirot's prognostication. No such woman as "Mrs Middleton" had ever been on their books. They
had received the Hon Mrs Havering's application for a housekeeper, and had sent her various
applicants for the post. When she sent them the engagement fee, she omitted to mention which
woman she had selected.
Somewhat crestfallen, I returned to London. I found Poirot established in an arm-chair by the fire in
a garish silk dressing-gown. He greeted me with much affection.
"Mon ami Hastings! But how glad I am to see you. Veritably I have for you a great affection! And
you have enjoyed yourself? You have run to and fro with the good Japp? You have interrogated
and investigated to your heart's content?"
"Poirot," I cried, "the thing's a dark mystery! It will never be solved."
"It is true that we are not likely to cover ourselves with glory over it."
"No, indeed. It's a hard nut to crack."
"Oh, as far as that goes, I am very good at cracking the nuts! A veritable squirrel! It is not that
which embarrasses me. I know well enough who killed Mr Harrington Pace."
"You know? How did you find out?"
"Your illuminating answers to my wires supplied me with the truth. See here, Hastings, let us
examine the facts methodically and in order. Mr Harrington Pace is a man with a considerable
fortune which at his death will doubtless pass to his nephew. Point No. 1. His nephew is known to
be desperately hard up. Point No. 2. His nephew is also known to be - shall we say a man of rather
loose moral fiber? Point No. 3."
"But Roger Havering is proved to have journeyed straight up to London."
"Précisément - and therefore, as Mr Havering left Elmer's Dale at 6:15, and since Mr Pace cannot
have been killed before he left, or the doctor would have spotted the time of the crime as being
given wrongly when he examined the body, we conclude quite rightly, that Mr Havering did not
shoot his uncle. But there is a Mrs Havering, Hastings."
"Impossible! The housekeeper was with her when the shot was fired."
"Ah, yes, the housekeeper. But she has disappeared."
"She will be found."
"I think not. There is something peculiarly elusive about that housekeeper, don't you think so,
Hastings? It struck me at once."
"She played her part, I suppose, and then got out in the nick of time."
"And what was her part?"
"Well, presumably to admit her confederate, the black-bearded man."
"Oh, no, that was not her part! Her part was what you have just mentioned, to provide an alibi for
Mrs Havering at the moment the shot was fired. And no one will ever find her, mon ami, because
she does not exist! 'There's no sech person,' as your so great Shakespeare says."
"It was Dickens," I murmured, unable to suppress a smile. "But what do you mean, Poirot?"
"I mean that Zoe Havering was an actress before her marriage, that you and Japp only saw the
housekeeper in a dark hall, a dim middle-aged figure in black with a faint subdued voice, and finally
that neither you nor Japp, nor the local police whom the housekeeper fetched, ever saw Mrs
Middleton and her mistress at one and the same time. It was child's play for that clever and daring
woman. On the pretext of summoning her mistress, she runs upstairs, slips on a bright jumper and
a hat with black curls attached which she jams down over the gray transformation. A few deft
touches and the makeup is removed, a slight dusting of rouge, and the brilliant Zoe Havering
comes down with her clear ringing voice. Nobody looks particularly at the housekeeper. Why
should they? There is nothing to connect her with the crime. She, too, has an alibi."
"But the revolver that was found at Eating? Mrs, Havering could not have placed it there?"
"No, that was Roger Havering's job - but it was a mistake on their part. It put me on the right track.
A man who has committed a murder with a revolver which he found on the spot would fling it away
at once, he would not carry it up to London with him. No, the motive was clear, the criminals wished
to focus the interest of the police on a spot far removed from Derbyshire; they were anxious to get
the police away as soon as possible from the vicinity of Hunter's Lodge. Of course the revolver
found at Ealing was not the one with which Mr Pace was shot. Roger Havering discharged one shot
from it, brought it up to London, went straight to his club to establish his alibi, then went quickly out
to Ealing by the district, a matter of about twenty minutes only, placed the parcel where it was
found and so back to town. That charming creature, his wife, quietly shoots Mr Pace after dinner -
you remember he was shot from behind? Another significant point, that! - reloads the revolver and
puts it back in its place, and then starts off with her desperate little comedy."
"It's incredible," I murmured, fascinated, "and yet -"
"And yet it is true. Bien sur, my friend, it is true. But to bring that precious pair to justice, that is
another matter. Well, Japp must do what he can - I have written him fully - but I very much fear,
Hastings, that we shall be obliged to leave them to Fate, or le bon Dieu, whichever you prefer."
"The wicked flourish like a green bay tree," I reminded him.
"But at a price, Hastings, always at a price, croyez-moi!"
Poirot's forebodings were confirmed. Japp, though convinced of the truth of his theory, was unable
to get together the necessary evidence to ensure a conviction.
Mr Pace's huge fortune passed into the hands of his murderers. Nevertheless, Nemesis did
overtake them, and when I read in the paper that the Hon Roger and Mrs Havering were amongst
those killed in the crashing of the Air Mail to Paris I knew that Justice was satisfied.

THE MILLION DOLLAR BOND ROBBERY

"What a number of bond robberies there have been lately!" I observed one morning, laying aside
the newspaper. "Poirot, let us forsake the science of detection, and take to crime instead!"
"You are on the - how do you say it? - get-rich-quick tack, eh, mon ami?"
"Well, look at this last coup, the million dollars' worth of Liberty Bonds which the London and
Scottish Bank were sending to New York, and which disappeared in such a remarkable manner on
board the Olympia."
"If it were not for the mal de mer, and the difficulty of practicing the so excellent method of
Laverguier for a longer time than the few hours of crossing the channel, I should delight to voyage
myself on one of these big liners," murmured Poirot dreamily.
"Yes, indeed," I said enthusiastically. "Some of them must be perfect palaces; the swimming-baths,
the lounges, the restaurant, the palm courts - really, it must be hard to believe that one is on the
sea."
"Me, I always know when I am on the sea," said Poirot sadly. "And all those bagatelles that you
enumerate, they say nothing to me; but, my friend, consider for a moment the geniuses that travel
as it were incognito! On board these floating palaces, as you so justly call them, one would meet
the élite, the haute noblesse of the criminal world!"
I laughed.
"So that's the way your enthusiasm runs! You would have liked to cross swords with the man who
sneaked the Liberty Bonds?"
The landlady interrupted us.
"A young lady as wants to see you, Mr Poirot. Here's her card."
The card bore the inscription: Miss Esmée Farquhar, and Poirot, after diving under the table to
retrieve a stray crumb, and putting it carefully in the waste-paper-basket, nodded to the landlady to
admit her.
In another minute one of the most charming girls I have ever seen was ushered into the room. She
was perhaps about five-and-twenty, with big brown eyes and a perfect figure. She was well-
dressed and perfectly composed in manner.
"Sit down, I beg of you, mademoiselle. This is my friend, Captain Hastings, who aids me in my little
problems."
"I am afraid it is a big problem I have brought you today, Monsieur Poirot," said the girl, giving me a
pleasant bow as she seated herself. "I dare say you have read about it in the papers. I am referring
to the theft of Liberty Bonds on the Olympia." Some astonishment must have shown itself in
Poirot's face, for she continued quickly: "You are doubtless asking yourself what I have to do with a
grave institution like the London and Scottish Bank. In one sense nothing, in another sense
everything. You see, Monsieur Poirot, I am engaged to Mr Philip Ridgeway."
"Aha! and Mr Philip Ridgeway -"
"Was in charge of the bonds when they were stolen. Of course no actual blame can attach to him, it
was not his fault in any way. Nevertheless, he is half distraught over the matter, and his uncle, I
know, insists that he must carelessly have mentioned having them in his possession. It is a terrible
set-back in his career."
"Who is his uncle?"
"Mr Vavasour, joint general manager of the London and Scottish Bank."
"Suppose, Miss Farquhar, that you recount to me the whole story?"
"Very well. As you know, the Bank wished to extend their credits in America, and for this purpose
decided to send over a million dollars in Liberty Bonds. Mr Vavasour selected his nephew, who had
occupied a position of trust in the Bank for many years and who was conversant with all the details
of the Bank's dealings in New York, to make the trip. The Olympia sailed from Liverpool on the
23rd, and the bonds were handed over to Philip on the morning of that day by Mr Vavasour and Mr
Shaw, the two joint general managers of the London and Scottish Bank. They were counted,
enclosed in a package, and sealed in his presence, and he then locked the package at once in his
portmanteau."
"A portmanteau with an ordinary lock?"
"No, Mr Shaw insisted on a special lock being fitted to it by Hubbs's. Philip, as I say, placed the
package at the bottom of the trunk. It was stolen just a few hours before reaching New York. A
rigorous search of the whole ship was made, but without result. The bonds seemed literally to have
vanished into thin air."
Poirot made a grimace.
"But they did not vanish absolutely, since I gather that they were sold in small parcels within half an
hour of the docking of the Olympia! Well, undoubtedly the next thing is for me to see Mr Ridgeway."
"I was about to suggest that you should lunch with me at the 'Cheshire Cheese.' Philip will be there.
He is meeting me, but does not yet know that I have been consulting you on his behalf."
We agreed to this suggestion readily enough, and drove there in a taxi.
Mr Philip Ridgeway was there before us, and looked somewhat surprised to see his fiancée arriving
with two complete strangers. He was a nice-looking young fellow, tall and spruce, with a touch of
graying hair at the temples, though he could not have been much over thirty.
Miss Farquhar went up to him and laid her hand on his arm.
"You must forgive my acting without consulting you, Philip," she said. "Let me introduce you to
Monsieur Hercule Poirot, of whom you must often have heard, and his friend, Captain Hastings."
Ridgeway looked very astonished.
"Of course I have heard of you, Monsieur Poirot," he said, as he shook hands. "But I had no idea
that Esmée was thinking of consulting you about my - our trouble."
"I was afraid you would not let me do it, Philip," said Miss Farquhar meekly.
"So you took care to be on the safe side," he observed, with a smile. "I hope Monsieur Poirot will be
able to throw some light on this extraordinary puzzle, for I confess frankly that I am nearly out of my
mind with worry and anxiety about it."
Indeed, his face looked drawn and haggard and showed only too clearly the strain under which he
was laboring.
"Well, well," said Poirot. "Let us lunch, and over lunch we will put our heads together and see what
can be done. I want to hear Mr Ridgeway's story from his own lips."
Whilst we discussed the excellent steak and kidney pudding of the establishment, Philip Ridgeway
narrated the circumstances leading to the disappearance of the bonds. His story agreed with that of
Miss Farquhar in every particular. When he had finished, Poirot took up the thread with a question.
"What exactly led you to discover that the bonds had been stolen, Mr Ridgeway?"
He laughed rather bitterly.
"The thing stared me in the face, Monsieur Poirot. I couldn't have missed it. My cabin trunk was half
out from under the bunk and all scratched and cut about where they'd tried to force the lock."
"But I understood that it had been opened with a key?"
"That's so. They tried to force it, but couldn't. And, in the end, they must have got it unlocked
somehow or other."
"Curious," said Poirot, his eyes beginning to flicker with the green light I knew so well. "Very
curious! They waste much, much time trying to prise it open, and then - sapristi! they find that they
have the key all the time - for each of Hubbs's locks are unique."
"That's just why they couldn't have had the key. It never left me day or night."
"You are sure of that?"
"I can swear to it, and besides, if they had had the key or a duplicate, why should they waste time
trying to force an obviously unforceable lock!"
"Ah! there is exactly the question we are asking ourselves! I venture to prophesy that the solution, if
we ever find it, will hinge on that curious fact. I beg of you not to assault me if I ask you one more
question: Are you perfectly certain you did not leave the trunk unlocked?"
Philip Ridgeway merely looked at him, and Poirot gesticulated apologetically.
"Ah, but these things can happen, I assure you! Very well, the bonds were stolen from the trunk.
What did the thief do with them? How did he manage to get ashore with them?"
"Ah!" cried Ridgeway. "That's just it. How? Word was passed to the Customs authorities, and every
soul that left the ship was gone over with a toothcomb!"
"And the bonds, I gather, made a bulky package?"
"Certainly they did. They could hardly have been hidden on board - and anyway we know they
weren't because they were offered for sale within half an hour of the Olympia's arrival, long before I
got the cables going and the numbers sent out. One broker swears he bought some of them even
before the Olympia got in. But you can't send bonds by wireless."
"Not by wireless, but did any tug come alongside?"
"Only the official ones, and that was after the alarm was given when every one was on the lookout.
I was watching out myself for their being passed over to some one that way. My God, Monsieur
Poirot, this thing will drive me mad! People are beginning to say I stole them myself."
"But you also were searched on landing, weren't you?" asked Poirot gently.
"Yes."
The young man stared at him in a puzzled manner.
"You do not catch my meaning, I see," said Poirot, smiling enigmatically. "Now I should like to make
a few inquiries at the Bank."
Ridgeway produced a card and scribbled a few words on it.
"Send this in and my uncle will see you at once."
Poirot thanked him, bade farewell to Miss Farquhar, and together we started out for Threadneedle
Street and the head office of the London and Scottish Bank. On production of Ridgeway's card, we
were led through the labyrinth of counters and desks, skirting paying-in clerks and paying-out clerks
and up to a small office on the first floor where the joint general managers received us. They were
two grave gentlemen, who had grown gray in the service of the Bank. Mr Vavasour had a short
white beard, Mr Shaw was clean shaven.
"I understand you are strictly a private inquiry agent?" said Mr Vavasour. "Quite so, quite so. We
have, of course, placed ourselves in the hands of Scotland Yard. Inspector McNeil has charge of
the case. A very able officer, I believe."
"I am sure of it," said Poirot politely. "You will permit a few questions, on your nephew's behalf?
About this lock, who ordered it from Hubbs's?"
"I ordered it myself," said Mr Shaw. "I would not trust to any clerk in the matter. As to the keys, Mr
Ridgeway had one, and the other two are held by my colleague and myself."
"And no clerk has had access to them?"
Mr Shaw turned inquiringly to Mr Vavasour.
"I think I am correct in saying that they have remained in the safe where we placed them on the
Z3rd," said Mr Vavasour. "My colleague was unfortunately taken ill a fortnight ago - in fact on the
very day that Philip left us. He has only just recovered."
"Severe bronchitis is no joke to a man of my age," said Mr Shaw ruefully. "But I am afraid Mr
Vavasour has suffered from the hard work entailed by my absence, especially with this unexpected
worry coming on top of everything."
Poirot asked a few more questions. I judged that he was endeavoring to gauge the exact amount of
intimacy between uncle and nephew. Mr Vavasour's answers were brief and punctilious. His
nephew was a trusted official of the Bank, and had no debts or money difficulties that he knew of.
He had been entrusted with similar missions in the past. Finally we were politely bowed out.
"I am disappointed," said Poirot, as we emerged into the street.
"You hoped to discover more? They are such stodgy old men."
"It is not their stodginess which disappoints me, mon ami. I do not expect to find in a Bank manager
a 'keen financier with an eagle glance' as your favorite works of fiction put it. No, I am disappointed
in the case - it is too easy!"
"Easy?"
"Yes, do you not find it almost childishly simple?"
"You know who stole the bonds?"
"I do."
"But then - we must - why -"
"Do not confuse and fluster yourself, Hastings. We are not going to do anything at present."
"But why? What are you waiting for?"
"For the Olympia. She is due on her return trip from New York on Tuesday."
"But if you know who stole the bonds, why wait? He may escape."
"To a South Sea island where there is no extradition? No, mon ami, he would find life very
uncongenial there. As to why I wait - eh bien, to the intelligence of Hercule Poirot the case is
perfectly clear, but for the benefit of others, not so greatly gifted by the good God - the Inspector
McNeil, for instance - it would be as well to make a few inquiries to establish the facts. One must
have consideration for those less gifted than oneself."
"Good Lord, Poirot! Do you know, I'd give a considerable sum of money to see you make a
thorough ass of yourself - just for once. You're so confoundedly conceited!"
"Do not enrage yourself, Hastings. In verity, I observe that there are times when you almost detest
me! Alas, I suffer the penalties of greatness!"
The little man puffed out his chest, and sighed so comically that I was forced to laugh.
Tuesday saw us speeding to Liverpool in a first-class carriage of the L.& N.W.R. Poirot had
obstinately refused to enlighten me as to his suspicions - or certainties. He contented himself with
expressing surprise that I, too, was not equally au fait with the situation. I disdained to argue, and
intrenched my curiosity behind a rampart of pretended indifference.
Once arrived at the quay alongside which lay the big transatlantic liner, Poirot became brisk and
alert. Our proceedings consisted in interviewing four successive stewards and inquiring after a
friend of Poirot's who had crossed to New York on the 23rd.
"An elderly gentleman, wearing glasses. A great invalid, hardly moved out of his cabin."
The description appeared to tally with one Mr Ventnor who had occupied the cabin C 24 which was
next to that of Philip Ridgeway. Although unable to see how Poirot had deduced Mr Ventnor's
existence and personal appearance, I was keenly excited.
"Tell me," I cried, "was this gentleman one of the first to land when you got to New York?"
The steward shook his head.
"No, indeed, sir, he was one of the last off the boat."
I retired crestfallen, and observed Poirot grinning at me. He thanked the steward, a note changed
hands, and we took our departure.
"It's all very well," I remarked heatedly, "but that last answer must have damped your precious
theory, grin as you please!"
"As usual, you see nothing, Hastings. That last answer is, on the contrary, the coping-stone of my
theory."
I flung up my hands in despair.
"I give it up."

When we were in the train, speeding towards London, Poirot wrote busily for a few minutes, sealing
up the result in an envelope.
"This is for the good Inspector McNeil. We will leave it at Scotland Yard in passing, and then to the
Rendezvous Restaurant, where I have asked Miss Esmée Farquhar to do us the honor of dining
with us."
"What about Ridgeway?"
"What about him?" asked Poirot with a twinkle.
"Why, you surely don't think - you can't -"
"The habit of incoherence is growing upon you, Hastings. As a matter of fact I did think. If
Ridgeway had been the thief - which was perfectly possible - the case would have been charming;
a piece of neat methodical work."
"But not so charming for Miss Farquhar."
"Possibly you are right. Therefore all is for the best. Now, Hastings, let us review the case. I can
see that you are dying to do so. The sealed package is removed from the trunk and vanishes, as
Miss Farquhar puts it, into thin air. We will dismiss the thin air theory, which is not practicable at the
present stage of science, and consider what is likely to have become of it. Every one asserts the
incredibility of its being smuggled ashore -"
"Yes, but we know -"
"You may know, Hastings. I do not. I take the view that, since it seemed incredible, it was
incredible. Two possibilities remain: it was hidden on board - also rather difficult - or it was thrown
overboard."
"With a cork on it, do you mean?"
"Without a cork."
I stared.
"But if the bonds were thrown overboard, they couldn't have been sold in New York."
"I admire your logical mind, Hastings. The bonds were sold in New York, therefore they were not
thrown overboard. You see where that leads us?"
"Where we were when we started."
"Jamais de la vie! If the package was thrown overboard, and the bonds were sold in New York, the
package could not have contained the bonds. Is there any evidence that the package did contain
the bonds? Remember, Mr Ridgeway never opened it from the time it was placed in his hands in
London."
"Yes, but then -"
Poirot waved an impatient hand.
"Permit me to continue. The last moment that the bonds are seen as bonds is in the office of the
London and Scottish Bank on the morning of the 23rd. They reappear in New York half an hour
after the Olympia gets in, and according to one man, whom nobody listens to, actually before she
gets in. Supposing then, that they have never been on the Olympia at all! Is there any other way
they could get to New York? Yes. The Gigantic leaves Southampton on the same day as the
Olympia, and she holds the record for the Atlantic. Mailed by the Gigantic, the bonds would be in
New York the day before the Olympia arrived. All is clear, the case begins to explain itself. The
sealed packet is only a dummy, and the moment of its substitution must be in the office in the Bank.
It would be an easy matter for any of the three men present to have prepared a duplicate package
which could be substituted for the genuine one. Très bien, the bonds are mailed to a confederate in
New York, with instructions to sell as soon as the Olympia is in, but some one must travel on the
Olympia to engineer the supposed moment of the robbery."
"But why?"
"Because if Ridgeway merely opens the packet and finds it a dummy, suspicion flies at once to
London. No, the man on board in the cabin next door does his work, pretends to force the lock in
an obvious manner so as to draw immediate attention to the theft, really unlocks the trunk with a
duplicate key, throws the package overboard and waits until the last to leave the boat. Naturally he
wears glasses to conceal his eyes, and is an invalid since he does not want to run the risk of
meeting Ridgeway. He steps ashore in New York and returns by the first boat available."
"But who - which was he?"
"The man who had a duplicate key, the man who ordered the lock, the man who has not been
severely ill with bronchitis at his home in the country - enfin, that 'stodgy' old man, Mr Shaw! There
are criminals in high places sometimes, my friend. Ah, here we are. Mademoiselle, I have
succeeded! You permit?"
And, beaming, Poirot kissed the astonished girl lightly on either cheek!

THE ADVENTURE OF THE EGYPTIAN TOMB

I have always considered that one of the most thrilling and dramatic of the many adventures I have
shared with Poirot was that of our investigation into the strange series of deaths which followed
upon the discovery and opening of the Tomb of King Men-her-Ra.
Hard upon the discovery of the Tomb of Tutankh-Amen by Lord Carnarvon, Sir John Willard and Mr
Bleibner of New York, pursuing their excavations not far from Cairo, in the vicinity of the Pyramids
of Gizeh, came unexpectedly on a series of funeral chambers. The greatest interest was aroused
by their discovery. The Tomb appeared to be that of King Men-her-Ra, one of those shadowy kings
of the Eighth Dynasty, when the Old Kingdom was falling to decay. Little was known about this
period, and the discoveries were fully reported in the newspapers.
An event soon occurred which took a profound hold on the public mind. Sir John Willard died quite
suddenly of heart failure.
The more sensational newspapers immediately took the opportunity of reviving all the old
superstitious stories connected with the ill luck of certain Egyptian treasures. The unlucky Mummy
at the British Museum, that hoary old chestnut, was dragged out with fresh zest, was quietly denied
by the Museum, but nevertheless enjoyed all its usual vogue.
A fortnight later Mr Bleibner died of acute blood poisoning, and a few days afterwards a nephew of
his shot himself in New York. The "Curse of Men-her-Ra" was the talk of the day, and the magic
power of dead and gone Egypt was exalted to a fetish point.
It was then that Poirot received a brief note from Lady Willard, widow of the dead archaeologist,
asking him to go and see her at her house in Kensington Square. I accompanied him.
Lady Willard was a tall, thin woman, dressed in deep mourning. Her haggard face bore eloquent
testimony to her recent grief.
"It is kind of you to have come so promptly, Monsieur Poirot."
"I am at your service, Lady Willard. You wished to consult me?"
"You are, I am aware, a detective, but it is not only as a detective that I wish to consult you. You
are a man of original views, I know, you have imagination, experience of the world - tell me,
Monsieur Poirot, what are your views on the supernatural?"
Poirot hesitated for a moment before he replied. He seemed to be considering. Finally he said:
"Let us not misunderstand each other, Lady Willard. It is not a general question that you are asking
me there. It has a personal application, has it not? You are referring obliquely to the death of your
late husband?"
"That is so," she admitted.
"You want me to investigate the circumstances of his death?"
"I want you to ascertain for me exactly how much is newspaper chatter, and how much may be said
to be founded on fact. Three deaths, Monsieur Poirot - each one explicable taken by itself, but
taken together surely an almost unbelievable coincidence, and all within a month of the opening of
the tomb! It may be mere superstition, it may be some potent curse from the past that operates in
ways undreamed of by modern science. The fact remains - three deaths! And I am afraid, Monsieur
Poirot, horribly afraid. It may not yet be the end."
"For whom do you fear?"
"For my son. When the news of my husband's death came I was ill. My son, who has just come
down from Oxford, went out there. He brought the - the body home, but now he has gone out
again, in spite of my prayers and entreaties. He is so fascinated by the work that he intends to take
his father's place and carry on the system of excavations. You may think me a foolish, credulous
woman, but, Monsieur Poirot, I am afraid. Supposing that the spirit of the dead King is not yet
appeased? Perhaps to you I seem to be talking nonsense -"
"No, indeed, Lady Willard," said Poirot quickly. "I, too, believe in the force of superstition, one of the
greatest forces the world has ever known."
I looked at him in surprise. I should never have credited Poirot with being superstitious. But the little
man was obviously in earnest.
"What you really demand is that I shall protect your son? I will do my utmost to keep him from
harm."
"Yes, in the ordinary way, but against an occult influence?"
"In volumes of the Middle Ages, Lady Willard, you will find many ways of counteracting black
magic. Perhaps they knew more than we moderns with all our boasted science. Now let us come to
facts, that I may have guidance. Your husband had always been a devoted Egyptologist, hadn't
he?"
"Yes, from his youth upwards. He was one of the greatest living authorities upon the subject."
"But Mr Bleibner, I understand, was more or less of an amateur?"
"Oh, quite. He was a very wealthy man who dabbled freely in any subject that happened to take his
fancy. My husband managed to interest him in Egyptology, and it was his money that was so useful
in financing the expedition."
"And the nephew? What do you know of his tastes? Was he with the party at all?"
"I do not think so. In fact I never knew of his existence till I read of his death in the paper. I do not
think he and Mr Bleibner can have been at all intimate. He never spoke of having any relations."
"Who are the other members of the party?"
"Well, there is Dr Tosswill, a minor official connected with the British Museum; Mr Schneider of the
Metropolitan Museum in New York; a young American secretary; Dr Ames, who accompanies the
expedition in his professional capacity; and Hassan, my husband's devoted native servant."
"Do you remember the name of the American secretary?"
"Harper, I think, but I cannot be sure. He had not been with Mr Bleibner very long, I know. He was a
very pleasant young fellow."
"Thank you, Lady Willard."
"If there is anything else -?"
"For the moment, nothing. Leave it now in my hands, and be assured that I will do all that is
humanly possible to protect your son."
They were not exactly reassuring words, and I observed Lady Willard wince as he uttered them.
Yet, at the same time, the fact that he had not pooh-poohed her fears seemed in itself to be a relief
to her.
For my part I had never before suspected that Poirot had so deep a vein of superstition in his
nature. I tackled him on the subject as we went homewards. His manner was grave and earnest.
"But yes, Hastings. I believe in these things. You must not underrate the force of superstition."
"What are we going to do about it?"
"Toujours pratique, the good Hastings! Eh bien, to begin with we are going to cable to New York for
fuller details of young Mr Bleibner's death."
He duly sent off his cable. The reply was full and precise. Young Rupert Bleibner had been in low
water for several years. He had been a beach-comber and a remittance man in several South Sea
islands, but had returned to New York two years ago, where he had rapidly sunk lower and lower.
The most significant thing, to my mind, was that he had recently managed to borrow enough money
to take him to Egypt. "I've a good friend there I can borrow from," he had declared. Here, however,
his plans had gone awry. He had returned to New York cursing his skinflint of an uncle who cared
more for the bones of dead and gone kings than his own flesh and blood. It was during his sojourn
in Egypt that the death of Sir John Willard occurred. Rupert had plunged once mare into his life of
dissipation in New York, and then, without warning, he had committed suicide, leaving behind him a
letter which contained some curious phrases. It seemed written in a sudden fit of remorse. He
referred to himself as a leper and an outcast, and the letter ended by declaring that such as he
were better dead.
A shadowy theory leapt into my brain. I had never really believed in the vengeance of a long dead
Egyptian king. I saw here a more modern crime. Supposing this young man had decided to do
away with his uncle - preferably by poison. By mistake, Sir John Willard received the fatal dose.
The young man returns to New York, haunted by his crime. The news of his uncle's death reaches
him. He realizes how unnecessary his crime has been, and stricken with remorse takes his own
life.
I outlined my solutions to Poirot. He was interested.
"It is ingenious what you have thought of there - decidedly it is ingenious. It may even be true. But
you leave out of count the fatal influence of the Tomb."
I shrugged my shoulders.
"You still think that has something to do with it?"
"So much so, mon ami, that we start far Egypt tomorrow."
"What?" I cried, astonished.
"I have said it." An expression of conscious heroism spread over Poirot's face. Then he groaned.
"But, oh," he lamented, "the sea! The hateful sea!"

It was a week later. Beneath our feet was the golden sand of the desert. The hot sun poured down
overhead. Poirot, the picture of misery, wilted by my side. The little man was not a good traveler.
Our four days' voyage from Marseilles had been one long agony to him. He had landed at
Alexandria the wraith of his former self, even his usual neatness had deserted him. We had arrived
in Cairo and had driven out at once to the Mena House Hotel, right in the shadow of the Pyramids.
The charm of Egypt had laid hold of me. Not so Poirot. Dressed precisely the same as in London,
he carried a small clothes-brush in his pocket and waged an unceasing war on the dust which
accumulated on his dark apparel.
"And my boots," he wailed. "Regard them, Hastings. My boots, of the neat patent leather, usually
so smart and shining. See, the sand is inside them, which is painful, and outside them, which
outrages the eyesight. Also the heat, it causes my mustaches to become limp - but limp!"
"Look at the Sphinx," I urged. "Even I can feel the mystery and the charm it exhales."
Poirot looked at it discontentedly.
"It has not the air happy," he declared. "How could it, half-buried in sand in that untidy fashion. Ah,
this cursed sand!"
"Come, now, there's a lot of sand in Belgium," I reminded him, mindful of a holiday spent at
Knocke-sur-mer in the midst of "les dunes impeccables" as the guide-book had phrased it.
"Not in Brussels," declared Poirot. He gazed at the Pyramids thoughtfully. "It is true that they, at
least, are of a shape solid and geometrical, but their surface is of an unevenness most unpleasing.
And the palm-trees I like them not. Not even do they plant them in rows!"
I cut short his lamentations, by suggesting that we should start for the camp. We were to ride there
on camels, and the beasts were patiently kneeling, waiting for us to mount, in charge of several
picturesque boys headed by a voluble dragoman.
I pass over the spectacle of Poirot on a camel. He started by groans and lamentations and ended
by shrieks, gesticulations and invocations to the Virgin Mary and every Saint in the calendar. In the
end, he descended ignominiously and finished the journey on a diminutive donkey. I must admit
that a trotting camel is no joke for the amateur. I was stiff for several days.
At last we neared the scene of the excavations. A sunburnt man with a gray beard, in white clothes
and wearing a helmet, came to meet us.
"Monsieur Poirot and Captain Hastings? We received your cable. I'm sorry that there was no one to
meet you in Cairo. An unforeseen event occurred which completely disorganized our plans."
Poirot paled. His hand, which had stolen to his clothes-brush, stayed its course.
"Not another death?" he breathed.
"Yes."
"Sir Guy Willard?" I cried.
"No, Captain Hastings. My American colleague, Mr Schneider."
"And the cause?" demanded Poirot.
"Tetanus."
I blanched. All around me I seemed to feel an atmosphere of evil, subtle and menacing. A horrible
thought flashed across me. Supposing I were the next?
"Mon Dieu," said Poirot, in a very low voice, "I do not understand this. It is horrible. Tell me,
monsieur, there is no doubt that it was tetanus?"
"I believe not. But Dr Ames will tell you more than I can do."
"Ah, of course, you are not the doctor."
"My name is Tosswill."
This, then, was the British expert described by Lady Willard as being a minor official at the British
Museum. There was something at once grave and steadfast about him that took my fancy.
"If you will come with me," continued Dr Tosswill, "I will take you to Sir Guy Willard. He was most
anxious to be informed as soon as you should arrive."
We were taken across the camp to a large tent. Dr Tosswill lifted up the flap and we entered. Three
men were sitting inside.
"Monsieur Poirot and Captain Hastings have arrived, Sir Guy," said Tosswill.
The youngest of the three men jumped up and came forward to greet us. There was a certain
impulsiveness in his manner which reminded me of his mother. He was not nearly so sunburnt as
the others, and that fact, coupled with a certain haggardness round the eyes, made him look older
than his twenty-two years. He was clearly endeavoring to bear up under a severe mental strain.
He introduced his two companions, Dr Ames, a capable looking man of thirty odd, with a touch of
graying hair at the temples, and Mr Harper, the secretary, a pleasant lean young man wearing the
national insignia of horn-rimmed spectacles.
After a few minutes' desultory conversation the latter went out, and Dr Tosswill followed him. We
were left alone with Sir Guy and Dr Ames.
"Please ask any questions you want to ask, Monsieur Poirot," said Willard. "We are utterly
dumbfounded at this strange series of disasters, but it isn't - it can't be, anything but coincidence."
There was a nervousness about his manner which rather belied the words. I saw that Poirot was
studying him keenly.
"Your heart is really in this work, Sir Guy?"
"Rather. No matter what happens, or what comes of it, the work is going on. Make up your mind to
that."
Poirot wheeled round on the other.
"What have you to say to that, monsieur le docteur?"
"Well," drawled the doctor, "I'm not for quitting myself."
Poirot made one of those expressive grimaces of his.
"Then, évidemment, we must find out just how we stand. When did Mr Schneider's death take
place?"
"Three days ago."
"You are sure it was tetanus?"
"Dead sure."
"It couldn't have been a case of strychnine poisoning, for instance?"
"No, Monsieur Poirot. I see what you're getting at. But it was a clear case of tetanus."
"Did you not inject anti-serum?"
"Certainly we did," said the doctor dryly. "Every conceivable thing that could be done was tried."
"Had you the anti-serum with you?"
"No. We procured it from Cairo."
"Have there been any other cases of tetanus in the camp?"
"No, not one."
"Are you certain that the death of Mr Bleibner was not due to tetanus?"
"Absolutely plumb certain. He had a scratch upon his thumb which became poisoned, and
septicemia set in. It sounds pretty much the same to a layman, I dare say, but the two things are
entirely different."
"Then we have four deaths - all totally dissimilar, one heart failure, one blood poisoning, one
suicide and one tetanus."
"Exactly, Monsieur Poirot."
"Are you certain that there is nothing which might link the four together?"
"I don't quite understand you?"
"I will put it plainly. Was any act committed by those four men which might seem to denote
disrespect to the spirit of Men-her-Ra?"
The doctor gazed at Poirot in astonishment.
"You're talking through your hat, Monsieur Poirot. Surely you've not been guyed into believing all
that fool talk?"
"Absolute nonsense," muttered Willard angrily.
Poirot remained placidly immovable, blinking a little out of his green cat's eyes.
"So you do not believe it, monsieur le docteur?"
"No, sir, I do not," declared the doctor emphatically. "I am a scientific man, and I believe only what
science teaches."
"Was there no science then in Ancient Egypt?" asked Poirot softly. He did not wait for a reply, and
indeed Dr Ames seemed rather at a loss for the moment. "No, no, do not answer me, but tell me
this. What do the native workmen think?"
"I guess," said Dr Ames, "that, where white folk lose their heads, natives aren't going to be far
behind. I'll admit that they're getting what you might call scared - but they've no cause to be."
"I wonder," said Poirot non-committally.
Sir Guy leant forward.
"Surely," he cried incredulously, "you cannot believe in - oh, but the thing's absurd! You can know
nothing of Ancient Egypt if you think that."
For answer Poirot produced a little book from his pocket - an ancient tattered volume. As he held it
out I saw its title, The Magic of the Egyptians and Chaldeans. Then, wheeling round, he strode out
of the tent. The doctor stared at me.
"What is his little idea?"
The phrase, so familiar on Poirot's lips, made me smile as it came from another.
"I don't know exactly," I confessed. "He's got some plan of exorcizing the evil spirits, I believe."
I went in search of Poirot, and found him talking to the lean-faced young man who had been the
late Mr Bleibner's secretary.
"No," Mr Harper was saying, "I've only been six months with the expedition. Yes, I knew Mr
Bleibner's affairs pretty well."
"Can you recount to me anything concerning his nephew?"
"He turned up here one day, not a bad-looking fellow. I'd never met him before, but some of the
others had - Ames, I think, and Schneider. The old man wasn't at all pleased to see him. They were
at it in no time, hammer and tongs. 'Not a cent,' the old man shouted. 'Not one cent now or when
I'm dead. I intend to leave my money to the furtherance of my life's work. I've been talking it over
with Mr Schneider today.' And a bit more of the same. Young Bleibner lit out for Cairo right away."
"Was he in perfectly good health at the time?"
"The old man?"
"No, the young one."
"I believe he did mention there was something wrong with him. But it couldn't have been anything
serious, or I should have remembered."
"One thing more, has Mr Bleibner left a will?"
"So far as we know, he has not."
"Are you remaining with the expedition, Mr Harper?"
"No, sir, I am not. I'm for New York as soon as I can square up things here. You may laugh if you
like, but I'm not going to be this blasted old Men-her-Ra's next victim. He'll get me if I stop here."
The young man wiped the perspiration from his brow.
Poirot turned away. Over his shoulder he said with a peculiar smile:
"Remember, he got one of his victims in New York."
"Oh, hell!" said Mr Harper forcibly.
"That young man is nervous," said Poirot thoughtfully. "He is on the edge, but absolutely on the
edge."
I glanced at Poirot curiously, but his enigmatical smile told me nothing. In company with Sir Guy
Willard and Dr Tosswill we were taken round the excavations. The principal finds had been
removed to Cairo, but some of the tomb furniture was extremely interesting. The enthusiasm of the
young baronet was obvious, but I fancied that I detected a shade of nervousness in his manner as
though he could not quite escape from the feeling of menace in the air. As we entered the tent
which had been assigned to us, for a wash before joining the evening meal, a tall dark figure in
white robes stood aside to let us pass with a graceful gesture and a murmured greeting in Arabic.
Poirot stopped.
"You are Hassan, the late Sir John Willard's servant?"
"I served my Lord Sir John, now I serve his son." He took a step nearer to us and lowered his
voice. "You are a wise one, they say, learned in dealing with evil spirits. Let the young master
depart from here. There is evil in the air around us."
And with an abrupt gesture, not waiting for a reply, he strode away.
"Evil in the air," muttered Poirot. "Yes, I feel it."
Our meal was hardly a cheerful one. The floor was left to Dr Tosswill, who discoursed at length
upon Egyptian antiquities. Just as we were preparing to retire to rest, Sir Guy caught Poirot by the
arm and pointed. A shadowy figure was moving amidst the tents. It was no human one: I
recognized distinctly the dog-headed figure I had seen carved on the walls of the tomb.
My blood literally froze at the sight.
"Mon Dieu!" murmured Poirot, crossing himself vigorously. "Anubis, the jackal-headed, the god of
departing souls."
"Some one is hoaxing us," cried Dr Tosswill, rising indignantly to his feet.
"It went into your tent, Harper," muttered Sir Guy, his face dreadfully pale.
"No," said Poirot, shaking his head, "into that of the Dr Ames."
The doctor stared at him incredulously; then, repeating Dr Tosswill's words, he cried:
"Some one is hoaxing us. Come, we'll soon catch the fellow."
He dashed energetically in pursuit of the shadowy apparition. I followed him, but, search as we
would, we could find no trace of any living thing having passed that way. We returned, somewhat
disturbed in mind, to find Poirot taking energetic measures, in his own way, to ensure his personal
safety. He was busily surrounding our tent with various diagrams and inscriptions which he was
drawing in the sand. I recognized the five-pointed star or Pentagon many times repeated. As was
his wont, Poirot was at the same time delivering an impromptu lecture on witchcraft and magic in
general. White Magic as opposed to Black, with various references to the Ka and the Book of the
Dead thrown in.
It appeared to excite the liveliest contempt in Dr Tosswill, who drew me aside, literally snorting with
rage.
"Balderdash, sir," he exclaimed angrily. "Pure balderdash. The man's an impostor. He doesn't know
the difference between the superstitions of the Middle Ages and the beliefs of Ancient Egypt. Never
have I heard such a hotch-potch of ignorance and credulity."
I calmed the excited expert, and joined Poirot in the tent. My little friend was beaming cheerfully.
"We can now sleep in peace," he declared happily. "And I can do with some sleep. My head, it
aches abominably. Ah, for a good tisane!"
As though in answer to prayer, the flap of the tent was lifted and Hassan appeared, bearing a
steaming cup which he offered to Poirot. It proved to be camomile tea, a beverage of which he is
inordinately fond. Having thanked Hassan and refused his offer of another cup for myself, we were
left alone once more. I stood at the door of the tent some time after undressing, looking out over
the desert.
"A wonderful place," I said aloud, "and a wonderful work. I can feel the fascination. This desert life,
this probing into the heart of a vanished civilization. Surely, Poirot, you, too, must feel the charm!"
I got no answer, and I turned, a little annoyed. My annoyance was quickly changed to concern.
Poirot was lying back across the rude couch, his face horribly convulsed. Beside him was the
empty cup. I rushed to his side, then dashed out and across the camp to Dr Ames's tent.
"Dr Ames!" I cried. "Come at once."
"What's the matter?" said the doctor, appearing in pyjamas.
"My friend. He's ill. Dying. The camomile tea. Don't let Hassan leave the camp."
Like a flash the doctor ran to our tent. Poirot was lying as I left him.
"Extraordinary," cried Ames. "Looks like a seizure - or - what did you say about something he
drank?" He picked up the empty cup.
"Only I did not drink it!" said a placid voice.
We turned in amazement. Poirot was sitting up on the bed. He was smiling.
"No," he said gently. "I did not drink it. While my good friend Hastings was apostrophizing the night,
I took the opportunity of pouring it, not down my throat, but into a little bottle. That little bottle will go
to the analytical chemist. No -" as the doctor made a sudden movement - "as a sensible man, you
will understand that violence will be of no avail. During Hastings' brief absence to fetch you, I have
had time to put the bottle in safe keeping. Ah, quick, Hastings, hold him!"
I misunderstand Poirot's anxiety. Eager to save my friend, I flung myself in front of him. But the
doctor's swift movement had another meaning. His hand went to his mouth, a smell of bitter
almonds filled the air, and he swayed forward and fell.
"Another victim," said Poirot gravely, "but the last. Perhaps it is the best way. He has three deaths
on his head."
"Dr Ames?" I cried, stupefied. "But I thought you believed in some occult influence!"
"You misunderstood me, Hastings. What I meant was that I believe in the terrific force of
superstition. Once get it firmly established that a series of deaths are supernatural, and you might
almost stab a man in broad daylight, and it would still be put down to the curse, so strongly is the
instinct of the supernatural implanted in the human race. I suspected from the first that a man was
taking advantage of that instinct. The idea came to him, I imagine, with the death of Sir John
Willard. A fury of superstition arose at once. As far as I could see, nobody could derive any
particular profit from Sir John's death. Mr Bleibner was a different case. He was a man of great
wealth. The information I received from New York contained several suggestive points. To begin
with, young Bleibner was reported to have said he had a good friend in Egypt from whom he could
borrow. It was tacitly understood that he meant his uncle, but it seemed to me that in that case he
would have said so outright. The words suggest some boon companion of his own. Another thing,
he scraped up enough money to take him to Egypt, his uncle refused outright to advance him a
penny, yet he was able to pay the return passage to New York. Some one must have lent him the
money."
"All that was very thin," I objected.
"But there was more. Hastings, there occur often enough words spoken metaphorically which are
taken literally. The opposite can happen too. In this case, words which were meant literally were
taken metaphorically. Young Bleibner wrote plainly enough: 'I am a leper,' but nobody realized that
he shot himself because he believed that he had contracted the dread disease of leprosy."
"What?" I ejaculated.
"It was the clever invention of a diabolical mind. Young Bleibner was suffering from some minor
skin trouble, he had lived in the South Sea Islands, where the disease is common enough. Ames
was a former friend of his, and a well-known medical man, he would never have dreamed of
doubting his word. When I arrived here, my suspicions were divided between Harper and Dr Ames,
but I soon realized that only the doctor could have perpetrated and concealed the crimes, and I
learnt from Harper that he was previously acquainted with young Bleibner. Doubtless the latter at
some time or another had made a will or had insured his life in favor of the doctor. The latter saw
his chance of acquiring wealth. It was easy for him to inoculate Mr Bleibner with the deadly germs.
Then the nephew, overcome with despair at the dread news his friend had conveyed to him, shot
himself. Mr Bleibner, whatever his intentions, had made no will. His fortune would pass to his
nephew and from him to the doctor."
"And Mr Schneider?"
"We cannot be sure. He knew young Bleibner too, remember, and may have suspected something,
or, again, the doctor may have thought that a further death motiveless and purposeless would
strengthen the coils of superstition. Furthermore, I will tell you an interesting psychological fact,
Hastings. A murderer has always a strong desire to repeat his successful crime, the performance of
it grows upon him. Hence my fears for young Willard. The figure of Anubis you saw tonight was
Hassan, dressed up by my orders. I wanted to see if I could frighten the doctor. But it would take
more than the supernatural to frighten him. I could see that he was not entirely taken in by my
pretenses of belief in the occult. The little comedy I played for him did not deceive him. I suspected
that he would endeavor to make me the next victim. Ah, but in spite of la mer maudite, the heat
abominable, and the annoyances of the sand, the little gray cells still functioned!"
Poirot proved to be perfectly right in his premises. Young Bleibner, some years ago, in a fit of
drunken merriment, had made a jocular will, leaving "my cigarette case you admire so much and
everything else of which I die possessed which will be principally debts to my good friend Robert
Ames who once saved my life from drowning."
The case was hushed up as far as possible, and, to this day, people talk of the remarkable series
of deaths in connection with the Tomb of Men-her-Ra as a triumphal proof of the vengeance of a
bygone king upon the desecrators of his tomb - a belief which, as Poirot pointed out to me, is
contrary to all Egyptian belief and thought.
THE JEWEL ROBBERY AT THE GRAND METROPOLITAN

"Poirot," I said, "a change of air would do you good."

"You think so, mon ami?"
"I am sure of it."
"Eh - eh?" said my friend, smiling. "It is all arranged, then?"
"You will come?"
"Where do you propose to take me?"
"Brighton. As a matter of fact, a friend of mine in the City put me on to a very good thing, and - well,
I have money to burn, as the saying goes. I think a weekend at the Grand Metropolitan would do us
all the good in the world."
"Thank you, I accept most gratefully. You have the good heart to think of an old man. And the good
heart, it is in the end worth all the little gray cells. Yes, yes, I who speak to you am in danger of
forgetting that sometimes."
I did not quite relish the implication. I fancy that Poirot is sometimes a little inclined to
underestimate my mental capacities. But his pleasure was so evident that I put my slight
annoyance aside.
"Then, that's all right," I said hastily.
Saturday evening saw us dining at the Grand Metropolitan in the midst of a gay throng. All the
world and his wife seemed to be at Brighton. The dresses were marvellous, and the jewels - worn
sometimes with more love of display than good taste - were something magnificent.
"Hein, it is a sight this!" murmured Poirot. "This is the home of the Profiteer, is it not so, Hastings?"
"Supposed to be," I replied. "But we'll hope they aren't all tarred with the profiteering brush."
Poirot gazed round him placidly.
"The sight of so many jewels makes me wish I had turned my brains to crime, instead of to its
detection. What a magnificent opportunity for some thief of distinction! Regard, Hastings, that stout
woman by the pillar. She is, as you would say, plastered with gems."
I followed his eyes.
"Why," I exclaimed, "it's Mrs Opalsen."
"You know her?"
"Slightly. Her husband is a rich stockbroker who made a fortune in the recent Oil boom."
After dinner we ran across the Opalsens in the lounge, and I introduced Poirot to them. We chatted
for a few minutes, and ended by having our coffee together.
Poirot said a few words in praise of some of the costlier gems displayed on the lady's ample
bosom, and she brightened up at once.
"It's a perfect hobby of mine, Mr Poirot. I just love jewelry. Ed knows my weakness, and every time
things go well he brings me something new. You are interested in precious stones?"
"I have had a good deal to do with them one time and another, madame. My profession has
brought me into contact with some of the most famous jewels in the world."
He went on to narrate, with discreet pseudonyms, the story of the historic jewels of a reigning
house, and Mrs Opalsen listened with bated breath.
"There now!" she exclaimed, as he ended. "If it isn't just like a play! You know, I've got some pearls
of my own that have a history attached to them. I believe it's supposed to be one of the finest
necklaces in the world - pearls so beautifully matched and so perfect in color. I declare I really must
run up and get it!"
"Oh, madame," protested Poirot, "you are too amiable. Pray do not derange yourself!"
"Oh, but I'd like to show it to you."
The buxom dame waddled across to the lift briskly enough. Her husband, who had been talking to
me, looked at Poirot inquiringly.
"Madame your wife is so amiable as to insist on showing me her pearl necklace," explained the
latter.
"Oh, the pearls!" Opalsen smiled in a satisfied fashion. "Well, they are worth seeing. Cost a pretty
penny too! Still, the money's there all right; I could get what I paid for them any day - perhaps more.
May have to, too, if things go on as they are now. Money's confoundedly tight in the City. All this
infernal E.P.D." He rambled on, launching into technicalities where I could not follow him.
He was interrupted by a small page-boy who approached and murmured something in his ear.
"Eh - what? I'll come at once. Not taken ill, is she? Excuse me, gentlemen."
He left us abruptly. Poirot leaned back and lit one of his tiny Russian cigarettes. Then, carefully and
meticulously, he arranged the empty coffee-cups in a neat row, and beamed happily on the result.
The minutes passed. The Opalsens did not return.
"Curious," I remarked, at length. "I wonder when they will come back."
Poirot watched the ascending spirals of smoke, and then said thoughtfully:
"They will not come back."
"Why?"
"Because, my friend, something has happened."
"What sort of thing? How do you know?" I asked curiously.
Poirot smiled.
"A few moments ago the manager came hurriedly out of his office and ran upstairs. He was much
agitated. The lift-boy is deep in talk with one of the pages. The lift-bell has rung three times, but he
heeds it not. Thirdly, even the waiters are distrait; and to make a waiter distrait -" Poirot shook his
head with an air of finality. "The affair must indeed be of the first magnitude. Ah, it is as I thought!
Here come the police."
Two men had just entered the hotel - one in uniform, the other in plain clothes. They spoke to a
page, and were immediately ushered upstairs. A few minutes later, the same boy descended and
came up to where we were sitting.
"Mr Opalsen's compliments, and would you step upstairs."
Poirot sprang nimbly to his feet. One would have said that he awaited the summons. I followed with
no less alacrity.
The Opalsens' apartments were situated on the first floor. After knocking on the door, the pageboy
retired, and we answered the summons, "Come in!" A strange scene met our eyes. The room was
Mrs Opalsen's bedroom, and in the center of it, lying back in an armchair, was the lady herself,
weeping violently. She presented an extraordinary spectacle, with tears making great furrows in the
powder with which her complexion was liberally coated. Mr Opalsen was striding up and down
angrily. The two police officials stood in the middle of the room one with a notebook in hand. A
hotel chambermaid, looking frightened to death, stood by the fireplace; and on the other side of the
room a Frenchwoman, obviously Mrs Opalsen's maid, was weeping and wringing her hands, with
an intensity of grief that rivaled that of her mistress.
Into this pandemonium stepped Poirot, neat and smiling. Immediately, with an energy surprising in
one of her bulk, Mrs Opalsen sprang from her chair towards him.
"There now; Ed may say what he likes, but I believe in luck, I do. It was fated I should meet you the
way I did this evening, and I've a feeling that if you can't get my pearls back for me nobody can."
"Calm yourself, I pray of you, madame." Poirot patted her hand soothingly. "Reassure yourself. All
will be well. Hercule Poirot will aid you!"
Mr Opalsen turned to the police inspector.
"There will be no objection to my - er - calling in this gentleman, I suppose?"
"None at all, sir," replied the man civilly, but with complete indifference. "Perhaps now your lady's
feeling better she'll just let us have the facts!"
Mrs Opalsen looked helplessly at Poirot. He led her back to her chair.
"Seat yourself, madame, and recount to us the whole history without agitating yourself."
Thus abjured, Mrs Opalsen dried her eyes gingerly, and began.
"I came upstairs after dinner to fetch my pearls for Mr Poirot here to see. The chambermaid and
Célestine were both in the room as usual -"
"Excuse me, madame, but what do you mean by 'as usual'?"
Mr Opalsen explained.
"I make it a rule that no one is to come into this room unless Célestine, the maid, is there also. The
chambermaid does the room in the morning while Célestine is present, and comes in after dinner to
turn down the beds under the same conditions; otherwise she never enters the room."
"Well, as I was saying," continued Mrs Opalsen, "I came up. I went to the drawer here -" she
indicated the bottom right-hand drawer of the knee-hole dressing-table - "took out my jewel-case
and unlocked it. It seemed quite as usual - but the pearls were not there!"
The inspector had been busy with his notebook.
"When had you last seen them?" he asked.
"They were there when I went down to dinner."
"You are sure?"
"Quite sure. I was uncertain whether to wear them or not, but in the end I decided on the emeralds,
and put them back in the jewel-case."
"Who locked up the jewel-case?"
"I did. I wear the key on a chain round my neck."
She held it up as she spoke.
The inspector examined it, and shrugged his shoulders.
"The thief must have had a duplicate key. No difficult matter. The lock is quite a simple one. What
did you do after you'd locked the jewel-case?"
"I put it back in the bottom drawer where I always keep it."
"You didn't lock the drawer?"
"No, I never do. My maid remains in the room till I come up, so there's no need."
The inspector's face grew graver.
"Am I to understand that the jewels were there when you went down to dinner, and that since then
the maid has not left the room?"
Suddenly, as though the horror of her own situation for the first time burst upon her, Célestine
uttered a piercing shriek, and, flinging herself upon Poirot, poured out a torrent of incoherent
French.
The suggestion was infamous! That she should be suspected of robbing Madame! The police were
well known to be of a stupidity incredible! But Monsieur, who was a Frenchman -
"A Belgian," interjected Poirot, but Célestine paid no attention to the correction.
Monsieur would not stand by and see her falsely accused, while that infamous chambermaid was
allowed to go scot-free. She had never liked her - a bold, red-faced thing - a born thief. She had
said from the first that she was not honest. And had kept a sharp watch over her too, when she was
doing Madame's room! Let those idiots of policemen search her, and if they did not find Madame's
pearls on her it would be very surprising!
Although this harangue was uttered in rapid and virulent French, Célestine had interlarded it with a
wealth of gesture, and the chambermaid realized at least a part of her meaning. She reddened
angrily.
"If that foreign woman's saying I took the pearls, it's a lie!" she declared heatedly. "I never so much
as saw them."
"Search her!" screamed the other. "You will find it as I say."
"You're a liar - do you hear?" said the chambermaid, advancing upon her. "Stole 'em yourself, and
want to put it on me. Why, I was only in the room about three minutes before the lady come up, and
then you were sitting here the whole time, as you always do, like a cat watching a mouse."
The inspector looked across inquiringly at Célestine.
"Is that true? Didn't you leave the room at all?"
"I did not actually leave her alone," admitted Célestine reluctantly, "but I went into my own room
through the door here twice - once to fetch a reel of cotton, and once for my scissors. She must
have done it then."
"You wasn't gone a minute," retorted the chambermaid angrily. "Just popped out and in again. I'd
be glad if the police would search me. I've nothing to be afraid of."
At this moment there was a tap at the door. The inspector went to it. His face brightened when he
saw who it was.
"Ah!" he said. "That's rather fortunate. I sent for one of our female searchers, and she's just arrived.
Perhaps if you wouldn't mind going into the room next door."
He looked at the chambermaid, who stepped across the threshold with a toss of her head, the
searcher following her closely.
The French girl had sunk sobbing into a chair. Poirot was looking round the room, the main
features of which I have made clear by a sketch.
"Where does that door lead?" he inquired, nodding his head towards the one by the window.
"Into the next apartment, I believe," said the inspector. "It's bolted, anyway, on this side."
Poirot walked across to it, tried it, then drew back the bolt and tried it again.
"And on the other side as well," he remarked. "Well, that seems to rule out that."
He walked over to the windows, examining each of them in turn.
"And again - nothing. Not even a balcony outside."
"Even if there were," said the inspector impatiently, "I don't see how that would help us, if the maid
never left the room."
"Évidemment," said Poirot, not disconcerted. "As Mademoiselle is positive she did not leave the
room -"
He was interrupted by the reappearance of the chambermaid and the police searcher.
"Nothing," said the latter laconically.
"I should hope not, indeed," said the chambermaid virtuously. "And that French hussy ought to be
ashamed of herself taking away an honest girl's character!"
"There, there, my girl; that's all right," said the inspector, opening the door. "Nobody suspects you.
You go along and get on with your work."
The chambermaid went unwillingly.
"Going to search her?" she demanded, pointing at Célestine.
"Yes, yes!" He shut the door on her and turned the key.
Célestine accompanied the searcher into the small room in her turn. A few minutes later she also
returned.
Nothing had been found on her.
The inspector's face grew graver.
"I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to come along with me all the same, miss." He turned to Mrs
Opalsen. "I'm sorry, madam, but all the evidence points that way. If she's not got them on her,
they're hidden somewhere about the room."
Célestine uttered a piercing shriek, and clung to Poirot's arm. The latter bent and whispered
something in the girl's ear. She looked up at him doubtfully.
"Si, si, mon enfant - I assure you it is better not to resist." Then he turned to the inspector. "You
permit, monsieur? A little experiment - purely for my own satisfaction."
"Depends on what it is," replied the police officer non-committally.
Poirot addressed Célestine once more.
"You have told us that you went into your room to fetch a reel of cotton. Whereabouts was it?"
"On the top of the chest of drawers, monsieur."
"And the scissors?"
"They also."
"Would it be troubling you too much, mademoiselle, to ask you to repeat those two actions? You
were sitting here with your work, you say?"
Célestine sat down, and then, at a sign from Poirot, rose, passing into the adjoining room, took up
an object from the chest of drawers, and returned.
Poirot divided his attention between her movements and a large turnip of a watch which he held in
the palm of his hand.
"Again, if you please, mademoiselle."
At the conclusion of the second performance, he made a note in his pocket-book, and returned the
watch to his pocket.
"Thank you, mademoiselle. And you, monsieur -" he bowed to the inspector - "for your courtesy."
The inspector seemed somewhat entertained by this excessive politeness. Célestine departed in a
flood of tears, accompanied by the woman and the plain-clothes official.
Then, with a brief apology to Mrs Opalsen, the inspector set to work to ransack the room. He pulled
out drawers, opened cupboards, completely unmade the bed, and tapped the floor. Mr Opalsen
looked on skeptically.
"You really think you will find them?"
"Yes, sir. It stands to reason. She hadn't time to take them out of the room. The lady's discovering
the robbery so soon upset her plans. No, they're here right enough. One of the two must have
hidden them - and it's very unlikely for the chambermaid to have done so."
"More than unlikely - impossible!" said Poirot quietly.
"Eh?" The inspector stared.
Poirot smiled modestly.
"I will demonstrate. Hastings, my good friend, take my watch in your hand - with care. It is a family
heirloom! Just now I timed Mademoiselle's movements - her first absence from the room was of
twelve seconds, her second of fifteen. Now observe my actions. Madame will have the kindness to
give me the key of the jewel-case. I thank you. My friend Hastings will have the kindness to say
'Go!'"
"Go!" I said.
With almost incredible swiftness, Poirot wrenched open the drawer of the dressing-table, extracted
the jewel-case, fitted the key in the lock, opened the case, selected a piece of jewelry, shut and
locked the case, and returned it to the drawer, which he pushed to again. His movements were like
lightning.
"Well, mon ami?" he demanded of me breathlessly.
"Forty-six seconds," I replied.
"You see?" He looked round. "There would not have been time for the chambermaid even to take
the necklace out, far less hide it."
"Then that settles it on the maid," said the inspector with satisfaction, and returned to his search.
He passed into the maid's bedroom next door.
Poirot was frowning thoughtfully. Suddenly he shot a question at Mr Opalsen.
"This necklace - it was, without doubt, insured?"
Mr Opalsen looked a trifle surprised at the question.
"Yes," he said hesitatingly, "that is so."
"But what does that matter?" broke in Mrs Opalsen tearfully. "It's my necklace I want. It was unique.
No money could be the same."
"I comprehend, madame," said Poirot soothingly. "I comprehend perfectly. To la femme sentiment
is everything - is it not so! But monsieur, who has not the so fine susceptibility, will doubtless find
some slight consolation in the fact."
"Of course, of course," said Mr Opalsen rather uncertainly. "Still -"
He was interrupted by a shout of triumph from the inspector. He came in dangling something from
his fingers.
With a cry, Mrs Opalsen heaved herself up from her chair. She was a changed woman.
"Oh, oh, my necklace!"
She clasped it to her breast with both hands. We crowded around.
"Where was it?" demanded Opalsen.
"Maid's bed. In among the springs of the wire mattress. She must have stolen it and hidden it there
before the chambermaid arrived on the scene."
"You permit, madame?" said Poirot gently. He took the necklace from her and examined it closely;
then handed it back with a bow.
"I'm afraid, madam, you'll have to hand it over to us for the time being," said the inspector. "We
shall want it for the charge. But it shall be returned to you as soon as possible."
Mr Opalsen frowned.
"Is that necessary?"
"I'm afraid so, sir. Just a formality."
"Oh, let him take it, Ed!" cried his wife. "I'd feel safer if he did. I shouldn't sleep a wink thinking
someone else might try and get hold of it. That wretched girl! And I would never have believed it of
her."
"There, there, my dear, don't take on so." I felt a gentle pressure on my arm. It was Poirot.
"Shall we slip away, my friend? I think our services are no longer needed."
Once outside, however, he hesitated, and then, much to my surprise, he remarked:
"I should rather like to see the room next door."
The door was not locked, and we entered. The room, which was a large double one, was
unoccupied. Dust lay about rather noticeably, and my sensitive friend gave a characteristic grimace
as he ran his finger round a rectangular mark on a table near the window.
"The service leaves to be desired," he observed dryly.
He was staring thoughtfully out of the window, and seemed to have fallen into a brown study.
"Well?" I demanded impatiently. "What did we come in here for?"
He stared.
"Je vous demande pardon, mon ami. I wished to see if the door was really bolted on this side also."
"Well," I said, glancing at the door which communicated with the room we had just left, "it is bolted."
Poirot nodded. He still seemed to be thinking.
"And, anyway," I continued, "what does it matter? The case is over. I wish you'd had more chance
of distinguishing yourself. But it was the kind of case that even a stiff-backed idiot like that inspector
couldn't go wrong over."
Poirot shook his head.
"The case is not over, my friend. It will not be over until we find out who stole the pearls."
"But the maid did!"
"Why do you say that?"
"Why," I stammered, "they were found - actually in her mattress."
"Ta, ta, ta!" said Poirot impatiently. "Those were not the pearls."
"What?"
"Imitation, mon ami."
The statement took my breath away. Poirot was smiling placidly.
"The good inspector obviously knows nothing of jewels. But presently there will be a fine
hullabaloo!"
"Come!" I cried, dragging at his arm.
"Where?"
"We must tell the Opalsens at once."
"I think not."
"But that poor woman -"
"Eh bien; that poor woman, as you call her, will have a much better night believing the jewels to be
safe."
"But the thief may escape with them!"
"As usual, my friend, you speak without reflection. How do you know that the pearls Mrs Opalsen
locked up so carefully tonight were not the false ones, and that the real robbery did not take place
at a much earlier date?"
"Oh!" I said bewildered.
"Exactly," said Poirot, beaming. "We start again."
He led the way out of the room, paused a moment as though considering, and then walked down to
the end of the corridor, stopping outside the small den where the chambermaids and valets of the
respective floors congregated. Our particular chambermaid appeared to be holding a small court
there, and to be retailing her late experiences to an appreciative audience. She stopped in the
middle of a sentence. Poirot bowed with his usual politeness.
"Excuse that I derange you, but I shall be obliged if you will unlock for me the door of Mr Opalsen's
room."
The woman rose willingly, and we accompanied her down the passage again. Mr Opalsen's room
was on the other side of the corridor, its door facing that of his wife's room. The chambermaid
unlocked it with her pass-key, and we entered.
As she was about to depart Poirot detained her.
"One moment; have you ever seen among the effects of Mr Opalsen a card like this?"
He held out a plain white card, rather highly glazed and uncommon in appearance. The maid took it
and scrutinized it carefully.
"No, sir, I can't say I have. But, anyway, the valet has most to do with the gentlemen's rooms."
"I see. Thank you."
Poirot took back the card. The woman departed. Poirot appeared to reflect a little. Then he gave a
short, sharp nod of the head.
"Ring the bell, I pray of you, Hastings. Three times, for the valet."
I obeyed, devoured with curiosity. Meanwhile Poirot had emptied the waste-paper basket on the
floor, and was swiftly going through its contents.
In a few moments the valet answered the bell. To him Poirot put the same question, and handed
him the card to examine. But the response was the same. The valet had never seen a card of that
particular quality among Mr Opalsen's belongings. Poirot thanked him, and he withdrew, somewhat
unwillingly, with an inquisitive glance at the overturned waste-paper basket and the litter on the
floor. He could hardly have helped over-hearing Poirot's thoughtful remark as he bundled the torn
papers back again:
"And the necklace was heavily insured..."
"Poirot," I cried, "I see -"
"You see nothing, my friend," he replied quickly. "As usual, nothing at all! It is incredible - but there
it is. Let us return to our own apartments."
We did so in silence. Once there, to my intense surprise, Poirot effected a rapid change of clothing.
"I go to London tonight," he explained. "It is imperative."
"What?"
"Absolutely. The real work, that of the brain (ah, those brave little gray cells), it is done. I go to seek
the confirmation. I shall find it! Impossible to deceive Hercule Poirot!"
"You'll come a cropper one of these days," I observed, rather disgusted by his vanity.
"Do not be enraged, I beg of you, mon ami. I count on you to do me a service - of your friendship."
"Of course," I said eagerly, rather ashamed of my moroseness. "What is it?"
"The sleeve of my coat that I have taken off - will you brush it? See you, a little white powder has
clung to it. You without doubt observed me run my finger round the drawer of the dressing-table?"
"No, I didn't."
"You should observe my actions, my friend. Thus I obtained the powder on my finger, and, being a
little over-excited, I rubbed it on my sleeve; an action without method which I deplore - false to all
my principles."
"But what was the powder?" I asked, not particularly interested in Poirot's principles.
"Not the poison of the Borgias," replied Poirot, with a twinkle. "I see your imagination mounting. I
should say it was French chalk."
"French chalk?"
"Yes, cabinet-makers use it to make drawers run smoothly."
I laughed.
"You old sinner! I thought you were working up to something exciting."
"Au revoir, my friend. I save myself. I fly!"
The door shut behind him. With a smile, half of derision, half of affection, I picked up the coat, and
stretched out my hand for the clothes brush.

The next morning, hearing nothing from Poirot, I went out for a stroll, met some old friends, and
lunched with them at their hotel. In the afternoon we went for a spin. A punctured tire delayed us,
and it was past eight when I got back to the Grand Metropolitan.
The first sight that met my eyes was Poirot, looking even more diminutive than usual, sandwiched
between the Opalsens, beaming in a state of placid satisfaction.
"Mon ami Hastings!" he cried, and sprang to meet me. "Embrace me, my friend; all has marched to
a marvel!"
Luckily, the embrace was merely figurative - not a thing one is always sure of with Poirot.
"Do you mean -" I began.
"Just wonderful, I call it!" said Mrs Opalsen, smiling all over her fat face. "Didn't I tell you, Ed, that if
he couldn't get back my pearls nobody would?"
"You did, my dear, you did. And you were right."
I looked helplessly at Poirot, and he answered the glance.
"My friend Hastings is, as you say in England, all at the seaside. Seat yourself, and I will recount to
you all the affair that has so happily ended."
"Ended?"
"But yes. They are arrested."
"Who are arrested?"
"The chambermaid and the valet, parbleu! You did not suspect? Not with my parting hint about the
French chalk?"
"You said cabinet-makers used it."
"Certainly they do - to make drawers slide easily. Somebody wanted that drawer to slide in and out
without any noise. Who could that be? Obviously, only the chambermaid. The plan was so
ingenious that it did not at once leap to the eye - not even to the eye of Hercule Poirot.
"Listen, this was how it was done. The valet was in the empty room next door, waiting. The French
maid leaves the room. Quick as a flash the chambermaid whips open the drawer, takes out the
jewel-case, and, slipping back the bolt, passes it through the door. The valet opens it at his leisure
with the duplicate key with which he has provided himself, extracts the necklace, and waits his
time. Célestine leaves the room again, and - pst! - in a flash the case is passed back again and
replaced in the drawer.
"Madame arrives, the theft is discovered. The chambermaid demands to be searched, with a good
deal of righteous indignation, and leaves the room without a stain on her character. The imitation
necklace with which they have provided themselves has been concealed in the French girl's bed
that morning by the chambermaid - a master stroke, ça!"
"But what did you go to London for?"
"You remember the card?"
"Certainly. It puzzled me - and puzzles me still. I thought -"
I hesitated delicately, glancing at Mr Opalsen.
Poirot laughed heartily.
"Une blague! For the benefit of the valet. The card was one with a specially prepared surface - for
finger-prints. I went straight to Scotland Yard, asked for our old friend Inspector Japp, and laid the
facts before him. As I had suspected, the finger-prints proved to be those of two well-known jewel
thieves who have been 'wanted' for some time. Japp came down with me, the thieves were
arrested, and the necklace was discovered in the valet's possession. A clever pair, but they failed
in method. Have I not told you, Hastings, at least thirty-six times, that without method -"
"At least thirty-six thousand times!" I interrupted. "But where did their 'method' break down?"
"Mon ami, it is a good plan to take a place as chambermaid or valet - but you must not shirk your
work. They left an empty room undusted; and therefore, when the man put down the jewel-case on
the little table near the communicating door, it left a square mark -"
"I remember," I cried.
"Before, I was undecided. Then - I knew!"
There was a moment's silence.
"And I've got my pearls," said Mrs Opalsen as a sort of Greek chorus.
"Well," I said, "I'd better have some dinner."
Poirot accompanied me.
"This ought to mean kudos for you," I observed.
"Pas du tout," replied Poirot tranquilly. "Japp and the local inspector will divide the credit between
them. But -" he tapped his pocket - "I have a check here, from Mr Opalsen, and, how say you, my
friend? This week-end has not gone according to plan. Shall we return here next week-end - at my
expense this time?"

THE KIDNAPPED PRIME MINISTER

Now that war and the problems of war are things of the past, I think I may safely venture to reveal
to the world the part which my friend Poirot played in a moment of national crisis. The secret has
been well guarded. Not a whisper of it reached the Press. But, now that the need for secrecy has
gone by, I feel it is only just that England should know the debt it owes to my quaint little friend,
whose marvelous brain so ably averted a great catastrophe.
One evening after dinner - I will not particularize the date; it suffices to say that it was at the time
when "Peace by negotiation" was the parrot-cry of England's enemies - my friend and I were sitting
in his rooms. After being invalided out of the Army I had been given a recruiting job, and it had
become my custom to drop in on Poirot in the evenings after dinner and talk with him of any cases
of interest that he might have on hand.
I was attempting to discuss with him the sensational news of that day - no less than an attempted
assassination of Mr David MacAdam, England's Prime Minister. The account in the papers had
evidently been carefully censored. No details were given, save that the Prime Minister had had a
marvelous escape, the bullet just grazing his cheek.
I considered that our police must have been shamefully careless for such an outrage to be
possible. I could well understand that the German agents in England would be willing to risk much
for such an achievement. "Fighting Mac," as his own party had nicknamed him, had strenuously
and unequivocally combated the Pacifist influence which was becoming so prevalent.
He was more than England's Prime Minister - he was England; and to have removed him from his
sphere of influence would have been a crushing and paralyzing blow to Britain.
Poirot was busy mopping a gray suit with a minute sponge. Never was there a dandy such as
Hercule Poirot. Neatness and order were his passion. Now, with the odor of benzine filling the air,
he was quite unable to give me his full attention.
"In a little minute I am with you, my friend. I have all but finished. The spot of grease - he is not
good - I remove him - so!" He waved his sponge.
I smiled as I lit another cigarette.
"Anything interesting on?" I inquired, after a minute or two.
"I assist a - how do you call it? - 'charlady' to find her husband. A difficult affair, needing the tact.
For I have a little idea that when he is found he will not be pleased. What would you? For my part, I
sympathize with him. He was a man of discrimination to lose himself."
I laughed.
"At last! The spot of grease, he is gone! I am at your disposal."
"I was asking you what you thought of this attempt to assassinate MacAdam?"
"Enfantillage!" replied Poirot promptly. "One can hardly take it seriously. To fire with the rifle - never
does it succeed. It is a device of the past."
"It was very near succeeding this time," I reminded him.
Poirot shook his head impatiently. He was about to reply when the landlady thrust her head round
the door and informed him that there were two gentlemen below who wanted to see him.
"They won't give their names, sir, but they says as it's very important."
"Let them mount," said Poirot, carefully folding his gray trousers.
In a few minutes the two visitors were ushered in, and my heart gave a leap as in the foremost I
recognized no less a personage than Lord Estair, Leader of the House of Commons; whilst his
companion, Mr Bernard Dodge, was also a member of the War Cabinet, and, as I knew, a close
personal friend of the Prime Minister.
"Monsieur Poirot?" said Lord Estair interrogatively. My friend bowed. The great man looked at me
and hesitated. "My business is private."
"You may speak freely before Captain Hastings," said my friend, nodding to me to remain. "He has
not all the gifts, no! But I answer for his discretion."
Lord Estair still hesitated, but Mr Dodge broke in abruptly:
"Oh, come on - don't let's beat about the bush! As far as I can see, the whole of England will know
the hole we're in soon enough. Time's everything."
"Pray be seated, messieurs," said Poirot politely. "Will you take the big chair, milord?"
Lord Estair started slightly. "You know me?"
Poirot smiled. "Certainly. I read the little papers with the pictures. How should I not know you?"
"Monsieur Poirot, I have come to consult you upon a matter of the most vital urgency. I must ask for
absolute secrecy."
"You have the word of Hercule Poirot - I can say no more!" said my friend grandiloquently.
"It concerns the Prime Minister. We are in grave trouble."
"We're up a tree!" interposed Mr Dodge.
"The injury is serious, then?" I asked.
"What injury?"
"The bullet wound."
"Oh, that!" cried Mr Dodge contemptuously. "That's old history."
"As my colleague says," continued Lord Estair, "that affair is over and done with. Luckily, it failed. I
wished I could say as much for the second attempt."
"There has been a second attempt, then?"
"Yes, though not of the same nature. Monsieur Poirot, the Prime Minister has disappeared."
"What?"
"He has been kidnapped!"
"Impossible!" I cried, stupefied.
Poirot threw a withering glance at me, which I knew enjoined me to keep my mouth shut.
"Unfortunately, impossible as it seems, it is only too true," continued his lordship.
Poirot looked at Mr Dodge. "You said just now, monsieur, that time was everything. What did you
mean by that?"
The two men exchanged glances, and then Lord Estair said:
"You have heard, Monsieur Poirot, of the approaching Allied Conference?"
My friend nodded.
"For obvious reasons, no details have been given of when and where it is to take place. But,
although it has been kept out of the newspapers, the date is, of course, widely known in diplomatic
circles. The Conference is to be held tomorrow - Thursday - evening at Versailles. Now you
perceive the terrible gravity of the situation. I will not conceal from you that the Prime Minister's
presence at the Conference is a vital necessity. The Pacifist propaganda, started and maintained
by the German agents in our midst, has been very active. It is the universal opinion that the turning
point of the Conference will be the strong personality of the Prime Minister. His absence may have
the most serious results - possibly a premature and disastrous peace. And we have no one who
can be sent in his place. He alone can represent England."
Poirot's face had grown very grave. "Then you regard the kidnapping of the Prime Minister as a
direct attempt to prevent his being present at the Conference?"
"Most certainly I do. He was actually on his way to France at the time."
"And the Conference is to be held?"
"At nine o'clock tomorrow night."
Poirot drew an enormous watch from his pocket.
"It is now a quarter to nine."
"Twenty-four hours," said Mr Dodge thoughtfully.
"And a quarter," amended Poirot. "Do not forget the quarter, monsieur - it may come in useful. Now
for the details - the abduction, did it take place in England or in France?"
"In France. Mr MacAdam crossed to France this morning. He was to stay tonight as the guest of
the Commander-in-Chief, proceeding tomorrow to Paris. He was conveyed across the Channel by
destroyer. At Boulogne he was met by a car from General Headquarters and one of the
Commander-in-Chief's A.D.C.s."
"Eh bien?"
"Well, they started from Boulogne - but they never arrived."
"What?"
"Monsieur Poirot, it was a bogus car and a bogus A.D.C. The real car was found in a side road,
with the chauffeur and the A.D.C. neatly gagged and bound."
"And the bogus car?"
"Is still at large."
Poirot made a gesture of impatience. "Incredible! Surely it cannot escape attention for long?"
"So we thought. It seemed merely a question of searching thoroughly. That part of France is under
Military Law. We were convinced that the car could not go long unnoticed. The French police and
our own Scotland Yard men, and the military are straining every nerve. It is, as you say, incredible -
but nothing has been discovered!"
At that moment a tap came at the door, and a young officer entered with a heavily sealed envelope
which he handed to Lord Estair.
"Just through from France, sir. I brought it on here, as you directed."
The minister tore it open eagerly, and uttered an exclamation. The officer withdrew.
"Here is news at last! This telegram has just been decoded. They have found the second car, also
the secretary, Daniels, chloroformed, gagged, and bound, in an abandoned farm near C-. He
remembers nothing, except something being pressed against his mouth and nose from behind, and
struggling to free himself. The police are satisfied as to the genuineness of his statement."
"And they have found nothing else?"
"No."
"Not the Prime Minister's dead body? Then, there is hope. But it is strange. Why, after trying to
shoot him this morning, are they now taking so much trouble to keep him alive?"
Dodge shook his head. "One thing's quite certain. They're determined at all costs to prevent his
attending the Conference."
"If it is humanly possible, the Prime Minister shall be there. God grant it is not too late. Now,
messieurs, recount to me everything - from the beginning. I must know about this shooting affair as
well."
"Last night, the Prime Minister, accompanied by one of his secretaries, Captain Daniels -"
"The same who accompanied him to France?"
"Yes. As I was saying, they motored down to Windsor, where the Prime Minister was granted an
Audience. Early this morning, he returned to town, and it was on the way that the attempted
assassination took place."
"One moment, if you please. Who is this Captain Daniels? You have his dossier?"
Lord Estair smiled. "I thought you would ask me that. We do not know very much of him. He is of
no particular family. He has served in the English Army, and is an extremely able secretary, being
an exceptionally fine linguist. I believe he speaks seven languages. It is for that reason that the
Prime Minister chose him to accompany him to France."
"Has he any relatives in England?"
"Two aunts. A Mrs Everard, who lives at Hampstead, and a Miss Daniels, who lives near Ascot."
"Ascot? That is near to Windsor, is it not?"
"That point has not been overlooked. But it has led to nothing."
"You regard the Capitaine Daniels, then, as above suspicion?"
A shade of bitterness crept into Lord Estair's voice, as he replied:
"No, Monsieur Poirot. In these days, I should hesitate before I pronounced anyone above
suspicion."
"Très bien. Now I understand, milord, that the Prime Minister would, as a matter of course, be
under vigilant police protection, which ought to render any assault upon him an impossibility?"
Lord Estair bowed his head. "That is so. The Prime Minister's car was closely followed by another
car containing detectives in plain clothes. Mr MacAdam knew nothing of these precautions. He is
personally a most fearless man, and would be inclined to sweep them away arbitrarily. But,
naturally, the police make their own arrangements. In fact, the Premier's chauffeur, O'Murphy, is a
C.I.D. man."
"O'Murphy? That is a name of Ireland, is it not so?"
"Yes, he is an Irishman."
"From what part of Ireland?"
"County Clare, I believe."
"Tiens! But proceed, milord."
"The Premier started for London. The car was a closed one. He and Captain Daniels sat inside.
The second car followed as usual. But, unluckily, for some unknown reason, the Prime Minister's
car deviated from the main road -"
"At a point where the road curves?" interrupted Poirot.
"Yes - but how did you know?"
"Oh, c'est évident! Continue!"
"For some unknown reason," continued Lord Estair, "the Premier's car left the main road. The
police car, unaware of the deviation, continued to keep to the high road. At a short distance down
the unfrequented lane, the Prime Minister's car was suddenly held up by a band of masked men.
The chauffeur -"
"That brave O'Murphy!" murmured Poirot thoughtfully.
"The chauffeur, momentarily taken aback, jammed on the brakes. The Prime Minister put his head
out of the window. Instantly a shot rang out - then another. The first one grazed his cheek, the
second, fortunately, went wide. The chauffeur, now realizing the danger, instantly forged straight
ahead, scattering the band of men."
"A near escape," I ejaculated, with a shiver.
"Mr MacAdam refused to make any fuss over the slight wound he had received. He declared it was
only a scratch. He stopped at a local cottage hospital, where it was dressed and bound up - he did
not, of course, reveal his identity. He then drove, as per schedule, straight to Charing Cross, where
a special train for Dover was awaiting him, and, after a brief account of what had happened had
been given to the anxious police by Captain Daniels; he duly departed for France. At Dover, he
went on board the waiting destroyer. At Boulogne, as you know, the bogus car was waiting for him,
carrying the Union Jack, and correct in every detail."
"That is all you have to tell me?"
"Yes."
"There is no other circumstance that you have omitted, milord?"
"Well, there is one rather peculiar thing."
"Yes?"
"The Prime Minister's car did not return home after leaving the Prime Minister at Charing Cross.
The police were anxious to interview O'Murphy, so a search was instituted at once. The car was
discovered standing outside a certain unsavoury little restaurant in Soho, which is well known as a
meeting-place of German agents."
"And the chauffeur?"
"The chauffeur was nowhere to be found. He, too, had disappeared."
"So," said Poirot thoughtfully, "there are two disappearances: the Prime Minister in France, and
O'Murphy in London."
He looked keenly at Lord Estair, who made a gesture of despair.
"I can only tell you, Monsieur Poirot, that, if anyone had suggested to me yesterday that O'Murphy
was a traitor, I should have laughed in his face."
"And today?"
"Today I do not know what to think."
Poirot nodded gravely. He looked at his turnip of a watch again.
"I understand that I have carte blanche, messieurs - in every way, I mean? I must be able to go
where I choose, and how I choose."
"Perfectly. There is a special train leaving for Dover in an hour's time, with a further contingent from
Scotland Yard. You shall be accompanied by a Military officer and a C.I.D. man, who will hold
themselves at your disposal in every way. Is that satisfactory?"
"Quite. One more question before you leave, messieurs. What made you come to me? I am
unknown, obscure, in this great London of yours."
"We sought you out on the express recommendation and wish of a very great man of your own
country."
"Comment? My old friend the Préfet -?"
Lord Estair shook his head.
"Once higher than the Préfet. One whose word was once law in Belgium - and shall be again! That
England has sworn!"
Poirot's hand flew swiftly to a dramatic salute. "Amen to that! Ah, but my Master does not forget...
Messieurs, I, Hercule Poirot, will serve you faithfully. Heaven only send that it will be in time. But
this is dark - dark... I cannot see."
"Well, Poirot," I cried impatiently, as the door closed behind the Ministers, "what do you think?"
My friend was busy packing a minute suitcase, with quick, deft movements. He shook his head
thoughtfully.
"I do not know what to think. My brains desert me."
"Why, as you said, kidnap him, when a knock on the head would do as well?" I mused.
"Pardon me, mon ami, but I did not quite say that. It is undoubtedly far more their affair to kidnap
him."
"But why?"
"Because uncertainty creates panic. That is one reason. Were the Prime Minister dead, it would be
a terrible calamity, but the situation would have to be faced. But now you have paralysis. Will the
Prime Minister reappear, or will he not? Is he dead or alive? Nobody knows, and until they know
nothing definite can be done. And, as I tell you, uncertainty breeds panic, which is what les Boches
are playing for. Then, again, if the kidnappers are holding him secretly somewhere, they have the
advantage of being able to make terms with both sides. The German Government is not a liberal
paymaster, as a rule, but no doubt they can be made to disgorge substantial remittances in such a
case as this. Thirdly, they run no risk of the hangman's rope. Oh, decidedly, kidnapping is their
affair."
"Then, if that it so, why should they first try to shoot him!"
Poirot made a gesture of anger. "Ah, that is just what I do not understand! It is inexplicable - stupid!
They have all their arrangements made (and very good arrangements too!) for the abduction, and
yet they imperil the whole affair by a melodramatic attack, worthy of a cinema, and quite as unreal.
It is almost impossible to believe in it, with its band of masked men, not twenty miles from London!"
"Perhaps they were two quite separate attempts which happened irrespective of each other," I
suggested.
"Ah, no, that would be too much of a coincidence! Then, further - who is the traitor? There must
have been a traitor - in the first affair, anyway. But who was it - Daniels or O'Murphy! It must have
been one of the two, or why did the car leave the main road? We cannot suppose that the Prime
Minister connived at his own assassination! Did O'Murphy take that turning of his own accord, or
was it Daniels who told him to do so?"
"Surely it must have been O'Murphy's doing."
"Yes, because if it was Daniels' the Prime Minister would have heard the order, and would have
asked the reason. But there are altogether too many 'whys' in this affair, and they contradict each
other. If O'Murphy is an honest man, why did he leave the main road? But if he was a dishonest
man, why did he start the car again when only two shots had been fired - thereby, in all probability,
saving the Prime Minister's life? And, again, if he was honest, why did he, immediately on leaving
Charing Cross, drive to a well-known rendezvous of German spies?"
"It looks bad," I said.
"Let us look at the case with method. What have we for and against these two men? Take
O'Murphy first. Against: that his conduct in leaving the main road was suspicious; that he is an
Irishman from County Clare; that he has disappeared in a highly suggestive manner. For: that his
promptness in restarting the car saved the Premier's life; that he is a Scotland Yard man, and,
obviously, from the post allotted to him, a trusted detective. Now for Daniels. There is not much
against him, except the fact that nothing is known of his antecedents, and that he speaks too many
languages for a good Englishman! (Pardon me, mon ami, but, as linguists, you are deplorable!)
Now for him, we have the fact that he was found gagged, bound, and chloroformed - which does
not look as though he had anything to do with the matter."
"He might have gagged and bound himself, to divert suspicion."
Poirot shook his head. "The French police would make no mistake of that kind. Besides, once he
had attained his object, and the Prime Minister was safely abducted, there would not be much point
in his remaining behind. His accomplices could have gagged and chloroformed him, of course, but I
fail to see what object they hoped to accomplish by it. He can be of little use to them now, for, until
the circumstances concerning the Prime Minister have been cleared up, he is bound to be closely
watched."
"Perhaps he hoped to start the police on a false scent?"
"Then why did he not do so? He merely says that something was pressed over his nose and
mouth, and that he remembers nothing more. There is no false scent there. It sounds remarkably
like the truth."
"Well," I said, glancing at the clock, "I suppose we'd better start for the station. You may find more
clues in France."
"Possibly, mon ami, but I doubt it. It is still incredible to me that the Prime Minister has not been
discovered in that limited area, where the difficulty of concealing him must be tremendous. If the
military and the police of two countries have not found him, how shall I?"
At Charing Cross we were met by Mr Dodge.
"This is Detective Barnes, of Scotland Yard, and Major Norman. They will hold themselves entirely
at your disposal. Good luck to you. It's a bad business, but I've not given up hope. Must be off
now." And the Minister strode rapidly away.
We chatted in a desultory fashion with Major Norman. In the center of the little group of men on the
platform I recognized a little ferret-faced fellow talking to a tall, fair man. He was an old
acquaintance of Poirot's - Detective-Inspector Japp, supposed to be one of the smartest of
Scotland Yard's officers. He came over and greeted my friend cheerfully.
"I heard you were on this job too. Smart bit of work. So far they've got away with the goods all right.
But I can't believe they can keep him hidden long. Our people are going through France with a
toothcomb. So are the French. I can't help feeling it's only a matter of hours now."
"That is, if he's still alive," remarked the tall detective gloomily.
Japp's face fell. "Yes... But somehow I've got the feeling he's alive all right."
Poirot nodded. "Yes, yes; he's alive. But can he be found in time? I, like you, did not believe he
could be hidden so long."
The whistle blew, and we all trooped up into the Pullman car. Then, with a slow, unwilling jerk, the
train drew out of the station.
It was a curious journey. The Scotland Yard men crowded together. Maps of Northern France were
spread out, and eager forefingers traced the lines of roads and villages. Each man had his own pet
theory. Poirot showed none of his usual loquacity, but sat staring in front of him, with an expression
on his face that reminded me of a puzzled child. I talked to Norman, whom I found quite an
amusing fellow. On arriving at Dover Poirot's behavior moved me to intense amusement. The little
man, as he went on board the boat, clutched desperately at my arm. The wind was blowing lustily.
"Mon Dieu!" he murmured. "This is terrible!"
"Have courage, Poirot," I cried. "You will succeed. You will find him. I am sure of it."
"Ah, mon ami, you mistake my emotion. It is this villainous sea that troubles me! The mal de mer - it
is horrible suffering!"
"Oh!" I said, rather taken aback.
The first throb of the engines was felt, and Poirot groaned and closed his eyes.
"Major Norman has a map of Northern France if you would like to study it?"
Poirot shook his head impatiently.
"But no, but no! Leave me, my friend. See you, to think, the stomach and the brain must be in
harmony. Laverguier has a method most excellent for averting the mal de mer. You breathe in -
and out - slowly, so - turning the head from left to right and counting six between each breath."
I left him to his gymnastic endeavors, and went on deck.
As we came slowly into Boulogne Harbor Poirot appeared, neat and smiling, and announced to me
in a whisper that Laverguier's system had succeeded "to a marvel!"
Japp's forefinger was still tracing imaginary routes on his map. "Nonsense! The car started from
Boulogne - here they branched off. Now, my idea is that they transferred the Prime Minister to
another car. See?"
"Well," said the tall detective, "I shall make for the seaports. Ten to one, they've smuggled him on
board a ship."
Japp shook his head. "Too obvious. The order went out at once to close all the ports."
The day was just breaking as we landed. Major Norman touched Poirot on the arm. "There's a
military car here waiting for you, sir."
"Thank you, monsieur. But, for the moment, I do not propose to leave Boulogne."
"What?"
"No, we will enter this hotel here, by the quay."
He suited the action to the word, demanded and was accorded a private room. We three followed
him, puzzled and uncomprehending.
He shot a quick glance at us. "It is not so that the good detective should act, eh? I perceived your
thought. He must be full of energy. He must rush to and fro. He should prostrate himself on the
dusty road and seek the marks of tires through a little glass. He must gather up the cigarette-end,
the fallen match? That is your idea, is it not?"
His eyes challenged us. "But I - Hercule Poirot - tell you that it is not so! The true clues are within -
here!"
He tapped his forehead. "See you, I need not have left London. It would have been sufficient for me
to sit quietly in my rooms there. All that matters is the little gray cells within. Secretly and silently
they do their part, until suddenly I call for a map, and I lay my finger on a spot - so - and I say: the
Prime Minister is there! And it is so! With method and logic one can accomplish anything! This
frantic rushing to France was a mistake - it is playing a child's game of hide-and-seek. But now,
though it may be too late, I will set to work the right way, from within. Silence, my friends, I beg of
you."
And for five long hours the little man sat motionless, blinking his eyelids like a cat, his green eyes
flickering and becoming steadily greener and greener. The Scotland Yard man was obviously
contemptuous, Major Norman was bored and impatient, and I myself found the time pass with
wearisome slowness.
Finally, I got up, and strolled as noiselessly as I could to the window. The matter was becoming a
farce. I was secretly concerned for my friend. If he failed, I would have preferred him to fail in a less
ridiculous manner. Out of the window I idly watched the daily leave boat, belching forth columns of
smoke, as she lay alongside the quay.
Suddenly I was aroused by Poirot's voice close to my elbow.
"Mes amis, let us start!"
I turned. An extraordinary transformation had come over my friend. His eyes were flickering with
excitement, his chest was swelled to the uttermost.
"I have been an imbecile, my friends! But I see daylight at last."
Major Norman moved hastily to the door. "I'll order the car."
"There is no need. I shall not use it. Thank Heaven the wind has fallen."
"Do you mean you are going to walk, sir?"
"No, my young friend. I am no St Peter. I prefer to cross the sea by boat."
"To cross the sea?"
"Yes. To work with method, one must begin from the beginning. And the beginning of this affair was
in England. Therefore, we return to England."
At three o'clock, we stood once more upon Charing Cross platform. To all our expostulations,
Poirot turned a deaf ear, and reiterated again and again that to start at the beginning was not a
waste of time, but the only way. On the way over, he had conferred with Norman in a low voice,
and the latter had dispatched a sheaf of telegrams from Dover.
Owing to the special passes held by Norman, we got through everywhere in record time. In
London, a large police car was waiting for us, with some plain-clothes men, one of whom handed a
typewritten sheet of paper to my friend. He answered my inquiring glance.
"A list of the cottage hospitals within a certain radius west of London. I wired for it from Dover."
We were whirled rapidly through the London streets. We were on the Bath Road. On we went,
through Hammersmith, Chiswick and Brentford. I began to see our objective. Through Windsor and
on to Ascot. My heart gave a leap. Ascot was where Daniels had an aunt living. We were after him,
then, not O'Murphy.
We duly stopped at the gate of a trim villa. Poirot jumped out and rang the bell. I saw a perplexed
frown dimming the radiance of his face. Plainly, he was not satisfied. The bell was answered. He
was ushered inside. In a few moments he reappeared, and climbed into the car with a short, sharp
shake of his head. My hopes began to die down. It was past four now. Even if he found certain
evidence incriminating Daniels, what would be the good of it, unless he could wring from some one
the exact spot in France where they were holding the Prime Minister?
Our return progress towards London was an interrupted one. We deviated from the main road more
than once, and occasionally stopped at a small building, which I had no difficulty in recognizing as a
cottage hospital. Poirot only spent a few minutes at each, but at every halt his radiant assurance
was more and more restored.
He whispered something to Norman, to which the latter replied:
"Yes, if you turn off to the left, you will find them waiting by the bridge."
We turned up a side road, and in the failing light I discerned a second car, waiting by the side of the
road. It contained two men in plain clothes. Poirot got down and spoke to them, and then we
started off in a northerly direction, the other car following close behind.
We drove for some time, our objective being obviously one of the northern suburbs of London.
Finally, we drove up to the front door of a tall house, standing a little back from the road in its own
grounds.
Norman and I were left with the car. Poirot and one of the detectives went up to the door and rang.
A neat parlor maid opened it. The detective spoke.
"I am a police officer, and I have a warrant to search this house."
The girl gave a little scream, and a tall, handsome woman of middle age appeared behind her in
the hall.
"Shut the door, Edith. They are burglars, I expect."
But Poirot swiftly inserted his foot in the door, and at the same moment blew a whistle. Instantly the
other detectives ran up, and poured into the house, shutting the door behind them.
Norman and I spent about five minutes cursing our forced inactivity. Finally the door reopened, and
the men emerged, escorting three prisoners - a woman and two men. The woman, and one of the
men, were taken to the second car. The other man was placed in our car by Poirot himself.
"I must go with the others, my friend. But have great care of this gentleman. You do not know him,
no? Eh bien, let me present to you, Monsieur O'Murphy!"
O'Murphy! I gaped at him open-mouthed as we started again. He was not handcuffed, but I did not
fancy he would try to escape. He sat there staring in front of him as though dazed. Anyway,
Norman and I would be more than a match for him.
To my surprise, we still kept a northerly route. We were not returning to London, then! I was much
puzzled. Suddenly, as the car slowed down, I recognized that we were close to Hendon
Aerodrome. Immediately I grasped Poirot's idea. He proposed to reach France by aeroplane.
It was a sporting idea, but, on the face of it, impracticable. A telegram would be far quicker. Time
was everything. He must leave the personal glory of rescuing the Prime Minister to others.
As we drew up, Major Norman jumped out, and a plain-clothes man took his place. He conferred
with Poirot for a few minutes, and then went off briskly. I, too, jumped out, and caught Poirot by the
arm.
"I congratulate you, old fellow! They have told you the hiding-place? But, look here, you must wire
to France at once. You'll be too late if you go yourself."
Poirot looked at me curiously for a minute or two.
"Unfortunately, my friend, there are some things that cannot be sent by telegram."

At that moment Major Norman returned, accompanied by a young officer in the uniform of the
Flying Corps.
"This is Captain Lyall, who will fly you over to France. He can start at once."
"Wrap up warmly, sir," said the young pilot. "I can lend you a coat, if you like."
Poirot was consulting his enormous watch. He murmured to himself: "Yes, there is time - just time."
Then he looked up, and bowed politely to the young officer. "I thank you, monsieur. But it is not I
who am your passenger. It is this gentleman here."
He moved a little aside as he spoke, and a figure came forward out of the darkness. It was the
second male prisoner who had gone in the other car, and as the light fell on his face, I gave a gasp
of surprise.
It was the Prime Minister!

"For Heaven's sake, tell me all about it," I cried impatiently, as Poirot, Norman, and I motored back
to London. "How in the world did they manage to smuggle him back to England?"
"There was no need to smuggle him back," replied Poirot dryly. "The Prime Minister has never left
England. He was kidnapped on his way from Windsor to London."
"What?"
"I will make all clear. The Prime Minister was in his car, his secretary beside him. Suddenly a pad of
chloroform is clapped on his face -"
"But by whom?"
"By the clever linguistic Captain Daniels. As soon as the Prime Minister is unconscious, Daniels
picks up the speaking-tube, and directs O'Murphy to turn to the right, which the chauffeur, quite
unsuspicious, does. A few yards down that unfrequented road, a large car is standing, apparently
broken down. Its driver signals to O'Murphy to stop. O'Murphy slows up. The stranger approaches.
Daniels leans out of the window, and, probably with the aid of an instantaneous anaesthetic such
as ethylchloride, the chloroform trick is repeated. In a few seconds, the two helpless men are
dragged out and transferred to the other car, and a pair of substitutes take their places.
"Impossible!"
"Pas du tout! Have you not seen music-hall turns imitating celebrities with marvelous accuracy?
Nothing is easier than to personate a public character. The Prime Minister of England is far easier
to understudy than Mr John Smith of Clapham, say. As for O'Murphy's 'double,' no one was going
to take much notice of him until after the departure of the Prime Minister, and by then he would
have made himself scarce. He drives straight from Charing Cross to the meeting-place of his
friends. He goes in as O'Murphy, he emerges as some one quite different. O'Murphy has
disappeared, leaving a conveniently suspicious trail behind him."
"But the man who personated the Prime Minister was seen by everyone!"
"He was not seen by anyone who knew him privately or intimately. And Daniels shielded him from
contact with anyone as much as possible. Moreover, his face was bandaged up, and anything
unusual in his manner would be put down to the fact that he was suffering from shock as a result of
the attempt upon his life. Mr MacAdam has a weak throat, and always spares his voice as much as
possible before any great speech. The deception was perfectly easy to keep up as far as France.
There it would be impracticable and impossible - so the Prime Minister disappears. The police of
this country hurry across the Channel, and no one bothers to go into the details of the first attack.
To sustain the illusion that the abduction has taken place in France, Daniels is gagged and
chloroformed in a convincing manner."
"And the man who has enacted the part of the Prime Minister?"
"Rids himself of his disguise. He and the bogus chauffeur may be arrested as suspicious
characters, but no one will dream of suspecting their real part in the drama, and they will eventually
be released for lack of evidence."
"And the real Prime Minister?"
"He and O'Murphy were driven straight to the house of 'Mrs Everard,' at Hampstead, Daniels so-
called 'aunt.' In reality, she is Frau Bertha Ebenthal, and the police have been looking for her for
some time. It is a valuable little present that I have made to them - to say nothing of Daniels! Ah, it
was a clever plan, but he did not reckon on the cleverness of Hercule Poirot!"
I think my friend might well be excused his moment of vanity.
"When did you first begin to suspect the truth of the matter?"
"When I began to work the right way - from within! I could not make that shooting affair fit in - but
when I saw that the net result of it was that the Prime Minister went to France with his face bound
up I began to comprehend! And when I visited all the cottage hospitals between Windsor and
London, and found that no one answering to my description had had his face bound up and
dressed that morning, I was sure! After that, it was child's-play for a mind like mine!"

The following morning, Poirot showed me a telegram he had just received. It had no place of origin,
and was unsigned. It ran:
"In time."
Later in the day the evening papers published an account of the Allied Conference. They laid
particular stress on the magnificent ovation accorded to Mr David MacAdam, whose inspiring
speech had produced a deep and lasting impression.

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MR DAVENHEIM

Poirot and I were expecting our old friend Inspector Japp of Scotland Yard to tea. We were sitting
round the tea-table awaiting his arrival. Poirot had just finished carefully straightening the cups and
saucers which our land-lady was in the habit of throwing, rather than placing, on the table. He had
also breathed heavily on the metal teapot, and polished it with a silk handkerchief. The kettle was
on the boil, and a small enamel saucepan beside it contained some thick, sweet chocolate which
was more to Poirot's palate than what he described as "your English poison."
A sharp "rat-tat" sounded below, and a few minutes afterwards Japp entered briskly.
"Hope I'm not late," he said as he greeted us. "To tell the truth, I was yarning with Miller, the man
who's in charge of the Davenheim case."
I pricked up my ears. For the last three days the papers had been full of the strange disappearance
of Mr Davenheim, senior partner of Davenheim and Salmon, the well-known bankers and
financiers. On Saturday last he had walked out of his house, and had never been seen since. I
looked forward to extracting some interesting details from Japp.
"I should have thought," I remarked, "that it would be almost impossible for anyone to 'disappear'
nowadays."
Poirot moved a plate of bread and butter the eighth of an inch, and said sharply:
"Be exact, my friend. What do you mean by 'disappear'? To which class of disappearance are you
referring?"
"Are disappearances classified and labeled, then?" I laughed.
Japp smiled also. Poirot frowned at us both.
"But certainly they are! They fall into three categories: First, and most common, the voluntary
disappearance. Second, the much abused 'loss of memory' case - rare, but occasionally genuine.
Third, murder, and a more or less successful disposal of the body. Do you refer to all three as
impossible of execution?"
"Very nearly so, I should think. You might lose your own memory, but some one would be sure to
recognize you - especially in the case of a well-known man like Davenheim. Then 'bodies' can't be
made to vanish into thin air. Sooner or later they turn up, concealed in lonely places, or in trunks.
Murder will out. In the same way, the absconding clerk, or the domestic defaulter, is bound to be
run down in these days of wireless telegraphy. He can be headed off from foreign countries; ports
and railway stations are watched; and, as for concealment in this country, his features and
appearance will be known to everyone who reads a daily newspaper. He's up against civilization."
"Mon ami," said Poirot, "you make one error. You do not allow for the fact that a man who had
decided to make away with another man - or with himself in a figurative sense - might be that rare
machine, a man of method. He might bring intelligence, talent, a careful calculation of detail to the
task; and then I do not see why he should not be successful in baffling the police force."
"But not you, I suppose?" said Japp good-humoredly, winking at me. "He couldn't baffle you, eh,
Monsieur Poirot?"
Poirot endeavored, with a marked lack of success, to look modest. "Me, also! Why not? It is true
that I approach such problems with an exact science, a mathematical precision, which seems, alas,
only too rare in the new generation of detectives!"
Japp grinned more widely.
"I don't know," he said. "Miller, the man who's on this case, is a smart chap. You may be very sure
he won't overlook a footprint, or a cigar-ash, or a crumb even. He's got eyes that see everything."
"So, mon ami," said Poirot, "has the London sparrow. But all the same, I, should not ask the little
brown bird to solve the problem of Mr Davenheim."
"Come now, monsieur, you're not going to run down the value of details as clues?"
"By no means. These things are all good in their way. The danger is they may assume undue
importance. Most details are insignificant; one or two are vital. It is the brain, the little gray cells -"
he tapped his forehead - "on which one must rely. The senses mislead. One must seek the truth
within - not without."
"You don't mean to say, Monsieur Poirot, that you would undertake to solve a case without moving
from your chair, do you?"
"That is exactly what I do mean - granted the facts were placed before me. I regard myself as a
consulting specialist."
Japp slapped his knee. "Hanged if I don't take you at your word. Bet you a fiver that you can't lay
your hand - or rather tell me where to lay my hand - on Mr Davenheim, dead or alive, before a
week is out."
Poirot considered. "Eh bien, mon ami, I accept. Le sport, it is the passion of you English. Now - the
facts."
"On Saturday last, as is his usual custom, Mr Davenheim took the 12:40 train from Victoria to
Chingside, where his palatial country place, The Cedars, is situated. After lunch, he strolled round
the grounds, and gave various directions to the gardeners. Everybody agrees that his manner was
absolutely normal and as usual. After tea he put his head into his wife's boudoir, saying that he was
going to stroll down to the village and post some letters. He added that he was expecting a Mr
Lowen, on business. If Lowen should come before he himself returned, he was to be shown into
the study and asked to wait. Mr Davenheim then left the house by the front door, passed leisurely
down the drive, and out at the gate, and - was never seen again. From that hour, he vanished
completely."
"Pretty - very pretty - altogether a charming little problem," murmured Poirot. "Proceed, my good
friend."
"About a quarter of an hour later a tall, dark man with a thick black mustache rang the front-door
bell, and explained that he had an appointment with Mr Davenheim. He gave the name of Lowen,
and in accordance with the banker's instructions was shown into the study. Nearly an hour passed.
Mr Davenheim did not return. Finally Mr Lowen rang the bell, and explained that he was unable to
wait any longer, as he must catch his train back to town. Mrs Davenheim apologized for her
husband's absence, which seemed unaccountable, as she knew him to have been expecting the
visitor. Mr Lowen reiterated his regrets and took his departure.
"Well, as everyone knows, Mr Davenheim did not return. Early on Sunday morning the police were
communicated with, but could make neither head nor tail of the matter. Mr Davenheim seemed
literally to have vanished into thin air. He had not been to the post office; nor had he had been seen
passing through the village. At the station they were positive he had not departed by any train. His
own motor had not left the garage. If he had hired a car to meet him in some lonely spot, it seems
almost certain that by this time, in view of the large reward offered for information, the driver of it
would have come forward to tell what he knew. True, there was a small race-meeting at Entfield,
five miles away, and if he had walked to that station he might have passed unnoticed in the crowd.
But since then his photograph and a full description of him have been circulated in every
newspaper, and nobody has been able to give any news of him. We have, of course, received
many letters from all over England, but each due, so far, has ended in disappointment.
"On Monday morning a further sensational discovery came to light. Behind a portière in Mr
Davenheim's study stands a safe, and that safe had been broken into and rifled. The windows were
fastened securely on the inside, which seems to put an ordinary burglary out of court, unless, of
course, an accomplice within the house fastened them again afterwards. On the other hand,
Sunday having intervened, and the household being in a state of chaos, it is likely that the burglary
was committed on the Saturday, and remained undetected until Monday."
"Précisément," said Poirot dryly. "Well, is he arrested, ce pauvre M. Lowen?"
Japp grinned. "Not yet. But he's under pretty close supervision."
Poirot nodded. "What was taken from the safe? Have you any idea?"
"We've been going into that with the junior partner of the firm and Mrs Davenheim. Apparently there
was a considerable amount in bearer bonds, and a very large sum in notes, owing to some large
transaction having been just carried through. There was also a small fortune in jewelry. All Mrs
Davenheim's jewels were kept in the safe. The purchasing of them had become a passion with her
husband of late years, and hardly a month passed that he did not make her a present of some rare
and costly gem."
"Altogether a good haul," said Poirot thoughtfully. "Now, what about Lowen? Is it known what his
business was with Davenheim that evening?"
"Well, the two men were apparently not on very good terms. Lowen is a speculator in quite a small
way. Nevertheless, he has been able once or twice to score a coup off Davenheim in the market,
though it seems, they seldom or never actually met. It was a matter concerning some South
American shares which led the banker to make his appointment."
"Had Davenheim interests in South America, then?"
"I believe so. Mrs Davenheim happened to mention that he spent all last autumn in Buenos Aires."
"Any trouble in his home life? Were the husband and wife on good terms?"
"I should say his domestic life was quite peaceful and uneventful. Mrs Davenheim is a pleasant,
rather unintelligent woman. Quite a nonentity, I think."
"Then we must not look for the solution of the mystery there. Had he any enemies?"
"He had plenty of financial rivals, and no doubt there are many people whom he has got the better
of who bear him no particular good will. But there was no one likely to make away with him - and, if
they had, where is the body?"
"Exactly. As Hastings says, bodies have a habit of coming to light with fatal persistency."
"By the way, one of the gardeners says he saw a figure going round to the side of the house toward
the rose-garden. The long French window of the study opens on to the rose-garden, and Mr
Davenheim frequently entered and left the house that way. But the man was a good way off, at
work on some cucumber frames, and cannot even say whether it was the figure of his master or
not. Also, he cannot fix the time with any accuracy. It must have been before six, as the gardeners
cease work at that time."
"And Mr Davenheim left the house?"
"About half-past five or thereabouts."
"What lies beyond the rose-garden?"
"A lake."
"With a boathouse?"
"Yes, a couple of punts are kept there. I suppose you're thinking of suicide, Monsieur Poirot? Well, I
don't mind telling you that Miller's going down tomorrow expressly to see that piece of water
dragged. That's the kind of man he is!"
Poirot smiled faintly, and turned to me. "Hastings, I pray you, hand me that copy of the Daily
Megaphone. If I remember rightly, there is an unusually clear photograph there of the missing
man."
I rose, and found the sheet required. Poirot studied the features attentively.
"H'm!" he murmured. "Wears his hair rather long and wavy, full mustache and pointed beard, bushy
eyebrows. Eyes dark?"
"Yes."
"Hair and beard turning gray?"
The detective nodded. "Well, Monsieur Poirot, what have you got to say to it all? Clear as daylight,
eh?"
"On the contrary, most obscure."
The Scotland Yard man looked pleased.
"Which gives me great hopes of solving it," finished Poirot placidly.
"Eh?"
"I find it a good sign when a case is obscure. If a thing is clear as daylight - eh bien, mistrust it!
Someone has made it so."
Japp shook his head almost pityingly. "Well, each to their fancy. But it's not a bad thing to see your
way clear ahead."
"I do not see," murmured Poirot. "I shut my eyes - and think."
Japp sighed. "Well, you've got a clear week to think in."
"And you will bring me any fresh developments that arise - the result of the labors of the
hardworking and lynx-eyed Inspector Miller, for instance?"
"Certainly. That's in the bargain."
"Seems a shame, doesn't it?" said Japp to me as I accompanied him to the door. "Like robbing a
child!"
I could not help agreeing with a smile. I was still smiling as I re-entered the room.
"Eh bien!" said Poirot immediately. "You make fun of Papa Poirot, is it not so?" He shook his finger
at me. "You do not trust his gray cells? Ah, do not be confused! Let us discuss this little problem -
incomplete as yet, I admit, but already showing one or two points of interest."
"The lake!" I said significantly.
"And even more than the lake, the boathouse!"
I looked sidewise at Poirot. He was smiling in his most inscrutable fashion. I felt that, for the
moment, it would be quite useless to question him further.
We heard nothing of Japp until the following evening, when he walked in about nine o'clock. I saw
at once by his expression that he was bursting with news of some kind.
"Eh bien, my friend," remarked Poirot. "All goes well? But do not tell me that you have discovered
the body of Mr Davenheim in your lake, because I shall not believe you."
"We haven't found the body, but we did find his clothes - the identical clothes he was wearing that
day. What do you say to that?"
"Any other clothes missing from the house?"
"No, his valet is quite positive on that point. The rest of his wardrobe is intact. There's more. We've
arrested Lowen. One of the maids, whose business it is to fasten the bedroom windows, declares
that she saw Lowen coming towards the study through the rose-garden about a quarter past six.
That would be about ten minutes before he left the house."
"What does he himself say to that?"
"Denied first of all that he had ever left the study. But the maid was positive, and he pretended
afterwards that he had forgotten just stepping out of the window to examine an unusual species of
rose. Rather a weak story! And there's fresh evidence against him come to light. Mr Davenheim
always wore a thick gold ring set with a solitaire diamond on the little finger of his right hand. Well,
that ring was pawned in London on Saturday night by a man called Billy Kellett! He's already known
to the police - did three months last autumn for lifting an old gentleman's watch. It seems he tried to
pawn the ring at no less than five different places, succeeded at the last one, got gloriously drunk
on the proceeds, assaulted a policeman, and was run in in consequence. I went to Bow Street with
Miller and saw him. He's sober enough now, and I don't mind admitting we pretty well frightened
the life out of him, hinting he might be charged with murder. This is his yarn, and a very queer one
it is.
"He was at Entfield races on Saturday, though I dare say scarf pins was his line of business, rather
than betting. Anyway, he had a bad day, and was down on his luck. He was tramping along the
road to Chingside, and sat down in a ditch to rest just before he got into the village. A few minutes
later he noticed a man coming along the road to the village, 'dark-complexioned gent, with a big
mustache, one of them city toffs,' is his description of the man.
"Kellett was half concealed from the road by a heap of stones. Just before he got abreast of him,
the man looked quickly up and down the road, and seeing it apparently deserted he took a small
object from his pocket and threw it over the hedge. Then he went on towards the station. Now, the
object he had thrown over the hedge had fallen with a slight "chink" which aroused the curiosity of
the human derelict in the ditch. He investigated and, after a short search, discovered the ring! That
is Kellett's story. It's only fair to say that Lowen denies it utterly, and of course the word of a man
like Kellett can't be relied upon in the slightest. It's within the bounds of possibility that he met
Davenheim in the lane and robbed and murdered him."
Poirot shook his head.
"Very improbable, mon ami. He had no means of disposing of the body. It would have been found
by now. Secondly, the open way in which he pawned the ring makes it unlikely that he did murder
to get it. Thirdly, your sneak-thief is rarely a murderer. Fourthly, as he has been in prison since
Saturday, it would be too much of a coincidence that he is able to give so accurate a description of
Lowen."
Japp nodded. "I don't say you're not right. But all the same, you won't get a jury to take much note
of a jailbird's evidence. What seems odd to me is that Lowen couldn't find a cleverer way of
disposing of the ring."
Poirot shrugged his shoulders. "Well, after all, if it were found in the neighborhood, it might be
argued that Davenheim himself had dropped it."
"But why remove it from the body at all?" I cried.
"There might be a reason for that," said Japp. "Do you know that just beyond the lake, a little gate
leads out on to the hill, and not three minutes' walk brings you to - what do you think? - a lime kiln."
"Good heavens!" I cried. "You mean that the lime which destroyed the body would be powerless to
affect the metal of the ring?"
"Exactly."
"It seems to me," I said, "that that explains everything. What a horrible crime!"
By common consent we both turned and looked at Poirot. He seemed lost in reflection, his brow
knitted, as though with some supreme mental effort. I felt that at last his keen intellect was
asserting itself. What would his first words be? We were not long left in doubt. With a sigh, the
tension of his attitude relaxed, and turning to Japp, he asked:
"Have you any idea, my friend, whether Mr and Mrs Davenheim occupied the same bedroom?"
The question seemed so ludicrously inappropriate that for a moment we both stared in silence.
Then Japp burst into a laugh. "Good Lord, Monsieur Poirot, I thought you were coming out with
something startling. As to your question, I'm sure I don't know."
"You could find out?" asked Poirot with curious persistence.
"Oh, certainly - if you really want to know."
"Merci, mon ami. I should be obliged if you would make a point of it."
Japp stared at him a few minutes longer, but Poirot seemed to have forgotten us both. The
detective shook his head sadly at me, and murmuring, "Poor old fellow! War's been too much for
him!" gently withdrew from the room.
As Poirot still seemed sunk in a daydream, I took a sheet of paper, and amused myself by
scribbling notes upon it. My friend's voice aroused me. He had come out of his reverie, and was
looking brisk and alert.
"Que faites vous là, mon ami?"
"I was jotting down what occurred to me as the main points of interest in this affair."
"You become methodical - at last!" said Poirot approvingly.
I concealed my pleasure. "Shall I read them to you?"
"By all means."
I cleared my throat.
"'One: All the evidence points to Lowen having been the man who forced the safe.
"'Two: He had a grudge against Davenheim.
"'Three: He lied in his first statement that he had never left the study.
"'Four: If you accept Billy Kellett's story as true, Lowen is unmistakably implicated.'"
I paused. "Well?" I asked, for I felt that I had put my finger on all the vital facts.
Poirot looked at me pityingly, shaking his head very gently. "Mon pauvre ami! But it is that you have
not the gift! The important detail, you appreciate him never! Also, your reasoning is false."
"How?"
"Let me take your four points.
"One: Mr Lowen could not possibly know that he would have the chance to open the safe. He came
for a business interview. He could not know beforehand that Mr Davenheim would be absent
posting a letter, and that he would consequently be alone in the study!"
"He might have seized his opportunity," I suggested.
"And the tools? City gentlemen do not carry round housebreaker's tools on the off chance! And one
could not cut into that safe with a penknife, bien entendu!"
"Well, what about Number Two?"
"You say Lowen had a grudge against Mr Davenheim. What you mean is that he had once or twice
got the better of him. And presumably those transactions were entered into with the view of
benefiting himself. In any case you do not as a rule bear a grudge against a man you have got the
better of - it is more likely to be the other way about. Whatever grudge there might have been
would have been on Mr Davenheim's side."
"Well, you can't deny that he lied about never having left the study?"
"No. But he may have been frightened. Remember, the missing man's clothes had just been
discovered in the lake. Of course, as usual, he would have done better to speak the truth."
"And the fourth point!"
"I grant you that. If Kellett's story is true, Lowen is undeniably implicated. That is what makes the
affair so very interesting."
"Then I did appreciate one vital fact?"
"Perhaps - but you have entirely overlooked the two most important points, the ones which
undoubtedly hold the clue to the whole matter."
"And pray, what are they?"
"One, the passion which has grown upon Mr Davenheim in the last few years for buying jewelry.
Two, his trip to Buenos Aires last autumn."
"Poirot, you are joking!"
"I am most serious. Ah, sacred thunder, but I hope Japp will not forget my little commission."
But the detective, entering into the spirit of the joke, had remembered it so well that a telegram was
handed to Poirot about eleven o'clock the next day. At his request I opened it and read it out:

"'Husband and wife have occupied separate rooms since last winter.'"

"Aha!" cried Poirot. "And now we are in mid-June! All is solved!"

I stared at him.
"You have no moneys in the bank of Davenheim and Salmon, mon ami?"
"No," I said, wondering. "Why?"
"Because I should advise you to withdraw it - before it is too late."
"Why, what do you expect?"
"I expect a big smash in a few days - perhaps sooner. Which reminds me, we will return the
compliment of a dépêche to Japp. A pencil, I pray you, and a form. Voilà! 'Advise you to withdraw
any money deposited with firm in question.' That will intrigue him, the good Japp! His eyes will open
wide - wide! He will not comprehend in the slightest - until tomorrow, or the next day!"
I remained skeptical, but the morrow forced me to render tribute to my friend's remarkable powers.
In every paper was a huge headline telling of the sensational failure of the Davenheim bank. The
disappearance of the famous financier took on a totally different aspect in the light of the revelation
of the financial affairs of the bank.
Before we were half-way through breakfast, the door flew open and Japp rushed in. In his left hand
was a paper; in his right was Poirot's telegram, which he banged down on the table in front of my
friend.
"How did you know, Monsieur Poirot? How the blazes could you know?"
Poirot smiled placidly at him. "Ah, mon ami, after your wire, it was a certainty! From the
commencement, see you, it struck me that the safe burglary was somewhat remarkable. Jewels,
ready money, bearer bonds - all so conveniently arranged for - whom? Well, the good Monsieur
Davenheim was of those who 'look after Number One' as your saying goes! It seemed almost
certain that it was arranged for - himself! Then his passion of late years for buying jewelry! How
simple! The funds he embezzled, he converted into jewels, very likely replacing them in turn with
paste duplicates, and so he put away in a safe place, under another name, a considerable fortune
to be enjoyed all in good time when everyone has been thrown off the track. His arrangements
completed, he makes an appointment with Mr Lowen (who has been imprudent enough in the past
to cross the great man once or twice), drills a hole in the safe, leaves orders that the guest is to be
shown into the study, and walks out of the house - where?" Poirot stopped, and stretched out his
hand for another boiled egg. He frowned. "It is really insupportable," he murmured, "that every hen
lays an egg of a different size! What symmetry can there be on the breakfast table? At least they
should sort them in dozens at the shop!"
"Never mind the eggs," said Japp impatiently. "Let 'em lay 'em square if they like. Tell us where our
customer went to when he left The Cedars - that is, if you know!"
"Eh bien, he went to his hiding-place. Ah, this Monsieur Davenheim, there may be some
malformation in his gray cells, but they are of the first quality!"
"Do you know where he is hiding?"
"Certainly! It is most ingenious."
"For the Lord's sake, tell us, then!"
Poirot gently collected every fragment of shell from his plate, placed them in the egg-cup, and
reversed the empty egg-shell on top of them. This little operation concluded, he smiled at the neat
effect, and then beamed affectionately on us both.
"Come, my friends, you are men of intelligence. Ask yourselves the question which I asked myself.
'If I were this man, where should I hide?' Hastings, what do you say?"
"Well," I said, "I'm rather inclined to think I'd not do a bolt at all. I'd stay in London - in the heart of
things, travel by tubes and buses; ten to one I'd never be recognized. There's safety in a crowd."
Poirot turned inquiringly to Japp.
"I don't agree. Get clear away at once - that's the only chance. I would have had plenty of time to
prepare things beforehand. I'd have a yacht waiting, with steam up, and I'd be off to one of the most
out-of-the-way corners of the world before the hue and cry began!"
We both looked at Poirot. "What do you say, monsieur?"
For a moment he remained silent. Then a very curious smile flitted across his face.
"My friends, if I were hiding from the police, do you know where I should hide? In a prison!"
"What!"
"You are seeking Monsieur Davenheim in order to put him in prison, so you never dream of looking
to see if he may not be already there!"
"What do you mean?"
"You tell me Madame Davenheim is not a very intelligent woman. Nevertheless I think that if you
took her to Bow Street and confronted her with the man Billy Kellett, she would recognize him! In
spite of the fact that he has shaved his beard and mustache and those bushy eyebrows, and has
cropped his hair close. A woman nearly always knows her husband, though the rest of the world
may be deceived!"
"Billy Kellett? But he's known to the police!"
"Did I not tell you Davenheim was a clever man? He prepared his alibi long beforehand. He was
not in Buenos Aires last autumn - he was creating the character of Billy Kellett, 'doing three
months,' so that the police should have no suspicions when the time came. He was playing,
remember, for a large fortune, as well as liberty. It was worth while doing the thing thoroughly. Only
-"
"Yes?"
"Eh bien, afterwards he had to wear a false beard and wig, had to make up as himself again, and to
sleep with a false beard is not easy - it invites detection! He cannot risk continuing to share the
chamber of madame his wife. You found out for me that for the last six months, or ever since his
supposed return from Buenos Aires, he and Mrs Davenheim occupied separate rooms. Then I was
sure! Everything fitted in. The gardener who fancied he saw his master going round to the side of
the house was quite right. He went to the boathouse, donned his 'tramp' clothes, which you may be
sure had been safely hidden from the eyes of his valet, dropped the others in the lake, and
proceeded to carry out his plan by pawning the ring in an obvious manner, and then assaulting a
policeman, getting himself safely into the haven of Bow Street, where nobody would ever dream of
looking for him!"
"It's impossible," murmured Japp.
"Ask Madame," said my friend, smiling.
The next day a registered letter lay beside Poirot's plate. He opened it, and a five-pound note
fluttered out.
My friend's brow puckered.
"Ah, sacré! But what shall I do with it? I have much remorse! Ce pauvre Japp! Ah, an idea! We will
have a little dinner, we three! That consoles me. It was really too easy. I am ashamed. I, who would
not rob a child - mille tonnerres! Mon ami, what have you, that you laugh so heartily?"

THE ADVENTURE OF THE ITALIAN NOBLEMAN

Poirot and I had many friends and acquaintances of a rather informal nature. Amongst these was to
be numbered Dr Hawker, a near neighbor of ours, and a member of the medical profession. It was
the genial doctor's habit to drop in sometimes of an evening and have a chat with Poirot, of whose
genius he was an ardent admirer. The doctor himself, frank and unsuspicious to the last degree,
admired the talents so far removed from his own.
On one particular evening in early June, he arrived about half-past eight and settled down to a
comfortable discussion on the cheery topic of the prevalence of arsenical poisoning in crimes. It
must have been about a quarter of an hour later when the door of our sitting-room flew open, and a
distracted female precipitated herself into the room.
"Oh, doctor, you're wanted! Such a terrible voice. It gave me a turn, it did indeed."
I recognized in our new visitor Dr Hawker's housekeeper, Miss Rider. The doctor was a bachelor,
and lived in a gloomy old house a few streets away. The usually placid Miss Rider was now in a
state bordering on incoherence.
"What terrible voice? Who is it, and what's the trouble?"
"It was the telephone, doctor. I answered it - and a voice spoke. 'Help,' it said. 'Doctor - help.
They've killed me!' Then it sort of trailed away. 'Who's speaking?' I said. 'Who's speaking?' Then I
got a reply, just a whisper, it seemed, 'Foscatine' - something like that - 'Regent's Court.'"
The doctor uttered an exclamation.
"Court Foscatini. He has a flat in Regent's Court. I must go at once. What can have happened?"
"A patient of yours?" asked Poirot.
"I attended him for some slight ailment a few weeks ago. An Italian, but he speaks English
perfectly. Well, I must wish you good night, Monsieur Poirot, unless -"
He hesitated.
"I perceive the thought in your mind," said Poirot, smiling. "I shall be delighted to accompany you.
Hastings, run down and get hold of a taxi."
Taxis always make themselves sought for when one is particularly pressed for time, but I captured
one at last, and we were soon bowling along in the direction of Regent's Park. Regent's Court was
a new block of flats, situated just off St John's Wood Road. They had only recently been built, and
contained the latest service devices.
There was no one in the hall. The doctor pressed the lift-bell impatiently, and when the lift arrived
questioned the uniformed attendant sharply.
"Flat 11. Count Foscatini. There's been an accident there, I understand."
The man stared at him.
"First I've heard of it. Mr Graves - that's Count Foscatini's man - went out about half an hour ago,
and he said nothing."
"Is the Count alone in the flat?"
"No, sir, he's got two gentlemen dining with him."
"What are they like?" I asked eagerly.
We were in the lift now, ascending rapidly to the second floor, on which Flat 11 was situated.
"I didn't see them myself, sir, but I understand that they were foreign gentlemen."
He pulled back the iron door, and we stepped out on the landing. No. 11 was opposite to us. The
doctor rang the bell. There was no reply, and we could hear no sound from within. The doctor rang
again and again; we could hear the bell trilling within, but no sign of life rewarded us.
"This is getting serious," muttered the doctor. He turned to the lift attendant.
"Is there any pass-key to this door?"
"There is one in the porter's office downstairs."
"Get it, then, and, look here, I think you'd better send for the police."
Poirot approved with a nod of the head.
The man returned shortly; with him came the manager.
"Will you tell me, gentlemen, what is the meaning of all this?"
"Certainly. I received a telephone message from Count Foscatini stating that he had been attacked
and was dying. You can understand that we must lose no time - if we are not already too late."
The manager produced the key without more ado, and we all entered the flat.
We passed first into a small square lounge hall. A door on the right of it was half open. The
manager indicated it with a nod.
"The dining - room."
Dr Hawker led the way. We followed close on his heels. As we entered the room I gave a gasp.
The round table in the center bore the remains of a meal; three chairs were pushed back, as
though their occupants had just risen. In the corner, to the right of the fire-place, was a big writing-
table, and sitting at it was a man - or what had been a man. His right hand still grasped the base of
the telephone, but he had fallen forward, struck down by a terrific blow on the head from behind.
The weapon was not far to seek. A marble statuette stood where it had been hurriedly put down,
the base of it stained with blood.
The doctor's examination did not take a minute.
"Stone dead. Must have been almost instantaneous. I wonder he even managed to telephone. It
will be better not to move him until the police arrive."
On the manager's suggestion we searched the flat, but the result was a foregone conclusion. It was
not likely that the murderers would be concealed there when all they had to do was to walk out.
We came back to the dining-room. Poirot had not accompanied us in our tour. I found him studying
the center table with close attention. I joined him. It was a well-polished round mahogany table. A
bowl of roses decorated the center, and white lace mats reposed on the gleaming surface. There
was a dish of fruit, but the three dessert plates were untouched. There were three coffee-cups with
remains of coffee in them - two black, one with milk. All three men had taken port, and the
decanter, half-full, stood before the center plate. One of the men had smoked a cigar, the other two
cigarettes. A tortoise shell-and-silver box, holding cigars and cigarettes, stood open upon the table.
I enumerated all these facts to myself, but I was forced to admit that they did not shed any brilliant
light on the situation. I wondered what Poirot saw in them to make him so intent. I asked him.
"Mon ami," he replied, "you miss the point. I am looking for something that I do not see."
"What is that?"
"A mistake - even a little mistake - on the part of the murderer."
He stepped swiftly to the small adjoining kitchen, looked in, and shook his head.
"Monsieur," he said to the manager, "explain to me, I pray, your system of serving meals here."
The manager stepped to a small hatch in the wall.
"This is the service lift," he explained. "It runs to the kitchens at the top of the building. You order
through this telephone, and the dishes are sent down in the lift, one course at a time. The dirty
plates and dishes are sent up in the same manner. No domestic worries, you understand, and at
the same time you avoid the wearying publicity of always dining in a restaurant."
Poirot nodded.
"Then the plates and dishes that were used tonight are on high in the kitchen. You permit that I
mount there?" "Oh, certainly, if you like! Roberts, the lift man, will take you up and introduce you;
but I'm afraid you won't find anything that's of any use. They're handling hundreds of plates and
dishes, and they'll be all lumped together."
Poirot remained firm, however, and together we visited the kitchens and questioned the man who
had taken the order from flat 11.
"The order was given from the à la carte menu - for three," he explained. "Soup julienne, filet de
sole normande, tournedos of beef, and a rice soufflé. What time? Just about eight o'clock, I should
say. No, I'm afraid the plates and dishes have been all washed up by now. Unfortunate. You were
thinking of finger-prints, I suppose?"
"Not exactly," said Poirot, with an enigmatical smile. "I am more interested in Count Foscatini's
appetite. Did he partake of every dish?"
"Yes; but of course I can't say how much of each he ate. The plates were all soiled, and the dishes
empty - that is to say, with the exception of the rice soufflé. There was a fair amount of that left."
"Ah!" said Poirot, and seemed satisfied with the fact.
As we descended to the flat again he remarked in a low tone:
"We have decidedly to do with a man of method."
"Do you mean the murderer, or Count Foscatini?"
"The latter was undoubtedly an orderly gentleman. After imploring help and announcing his
approaching demise, he carefully hung up the telephone receiver."
I stared at Poirot. His words now and his recent inquiries gave me the glimmering of an idea.
"You suspect poison?" I breathed. "The blow on the head was a blind."
Poirot merely smiled.
We reentered the flat to find the local inspector of police had arrived with two constables. He was
inclined to resent our appearance, but Poirot calmed him with the mention of our Scotland Yard
friend, Inspector Japp, and we were accorded a grudging permission to remain. It was a lucky thing
we were, for we had not been back five minutes before an agitated middle-aged man came rushing
into the room with every appearance of grief and agitation.
This was Graves, valet-butler to the late Count Foscatini. The story he had to tell was a sensational
one.
On the previous morning, two gentlemen had called to see his master. They were Italians, and the
elder of the two, a man of about forty, gave his name as Signor Ascanio. The younger was a well-
dressed lad of about twenty-four.
Count Foscatini was evidently prepared for their visit and immediately sent Graves out upon some
trivial errand. Here the man paused and hesitated in his story. In the end, however, he admitted
that, curious as to the purport of the interview, he had not obeyed immediately, but had lingered
about endeavoring to hear something of what was going on.
The conversation was carried on in so low a tone that he was not as successful as he had hoped;
but he gathered enough to make it clear that some kind of monetary proposition was being
discussed, and that the basis of it was a threat. The discussion was anything but amicable. In the
end, Count Foscatini raised his voice slightly, and the listener heard these words clearly:
"I have no time to argue further now, gentlemen. If you will dine with me tomorrow night at eight
o'clock, we will resume the discussion."
Afraid of being discovered listening, Graves had then hurried out to do his master's errand. This
evening the two men had arrived punctually at eight. During dinner they had talked of indifferent
matters - politics, the weather, and the theatrical world. When Graves had placed the port upon the
table and brought in the coffee his master told him that he might have the evening off.
"Was that a usual proceeding of his when he had guests?" asked the inspector.
"No, sir; it wasn't. That's what made me think it must be some business of a very unusual kind that
he was going to discuss with these gentlemen."
That finished Graves's story. He had gone out about 8:30, and, meeting a friend, had accompanied
him to the Metropolitan Music Hall in Edgware Road.
Nobody had seen the two men leave, but the time of the murder was fixed clearly enough at 8:47.
A small clock on the writing-table had been swept off by Foscatini's arm, and had stopped at that
hour, which agreed with Miss Rider's telephone summons.
The police surgeon had made his examination of the body, and it was now lying on the couch. I
saw the face for the first time-the olive complexion, the long nose, the luxuriant black mustache,
and the full red lips drawn back from the dazzlingly white teeth. Not altogether a pleasant face.
"Well," said the inspector, refastening his notebook. "The case seems clear enough. The only
difficulty will be to lay our hands on this Signor Ascanio. I suppose his address is not in the dead
man's pocket-book by any chance?"
As Poirot had said, the late Foscatini was an orderly man. Neatly written in small, precise
handwriting was the inscription, "Signor Paolo Ascanio, Grosvenor Hotel."
The inspector busied himself with the telephone, then turned to us with a grin.
"Just in time. Our fine gentleman was off to catch the boat train to the Continent. Well, gentlemen,
that's about all we can do here. It's a bad business, but straightforward enough. One of these
Italian vendetta things, as likely as not."
Thus airily dismissed, we found our way downstairs. Dr Hawker was full of excitement.
"Like the beginning of a novel, eh? Real exciting stuff. Wouldn't believe it if you read about it."
Poirot did not speak. He was very thoughtful. All the evening he had hardly opened his lips.
"What says the master detective, eh?" asked Hawker, clapping him on the back. "Nothing to work
your gray cells over this time."
"You think not?"
"What could there be?"
"Well, for example, there is the window."
"The window? But it was fastened. Nobody could have got out or in that way. I noticed it specially."
"And why were you able to notice it?"
The doctor looked puzzled. Poirot hastened to explain.
"It is to the curtains I refer. They were not drawn. A little odd, that. And then there was the coffee. It
was very black coffee."
"Well, what of it?"
"Very black," repeated Poirot. "In conjunction with that let us remember that very little of the rice
souffle was eaten, and we get - what?"
"Moonshine," laughed the doctor. "You're pulling my leg."
"Never do I pull the leg. Hastings here knows that I am perfectly serious."
"I don't know what you are getting at, all the same," I confessed. "You don't suspect the
manservant, do you? He might have been in with the gang, and put some dope in the coffee. I
suppose they'll test his alibi?"
"Without doubt, my friend; but it is the alibi of Signor Ascanio that interests me."
"You think he has an alibi?"
"That is just what worries me. I have no doubt that we shall soon be enlightened on that point."
The Daily Newsmonger enabled us to become conversant with succeeding events.
Signor Ascanio was arrested and charged with the murder of Count Foscatini. When arrested, he
denied knowing the Count, and declared he had never been near Regent's Court either on the
evening of the crime or on the previous morning. The younger man had disappeared entirely.
Signor Ascanio had arrived alone at the Grosvenor Hotel from the Continent two days before the
murder. All efforts to trace the second man failed.
Ascanio, however, was not sent for trial. No less a personage than the Italian Ambassador himself
came forward and testified at the police-court proceedings that Ascanio had been with him at the
Embassy from eight till nine that evening. The prisoner was discharged. Naturally, a lot of people
thought that the crime was a political one, and was being deliberately hushed up.
Poirot had taken a keen interest in all these points. Nevertheless, I was somewhat surprised when
he suddenly informed me one morning that he was expecting a visitor at eleven o'clock, and that
that visitor was none other than Ascanio himself.
"He wishes to consult you?"
"Du tout, Hastings. I wish to consult him."
"What about?"
"The Regent's Court murder."
"You are going to prove that he did it?"
"A man cannot be tried twice for murder, Hastings. Endeavor to have the common sense. Ah, that
is our friend's ring."
A few minutes later Signor Ascanio was ushered in - a small, thin man with a secretive and furtive
glance in his eyes. He remained standing, darting suspicious glances from one to the other of us.
"Monsieur Poirot?"
My little friend tapped himself gently on the chest.
"Be seated, signor. You received my note. I am determined to get to the bottom of this mystery. In
some small measure you can aid me. Let us commence. You - in company with a friend - visited
the late Count Foscatini on the morning of Tuesday the 9th -"
The Italian made an angry gesture.
"I did nothing of the sort. I have sworn in court -"
"Précisément - and I have a little idea that you have sworn falsely."
"You threaten me? Bah! I have nothing to fear from you. I have been acquitted."
"Exactly; and as I am not an imbecile, it is not with the gallows I threaten you - but with publicity.
Publicity! I see that you do nor like the word. I had an idea that you would not. My little ideas, you
know, they are very valuable to me. Come, signor, your only chance is to be frank with me. I do not
ask to know whose indiscretions brought you to England. I know this much, you came for the
especial purpose of seeing Count Foscatini."
"He was not a count," growled the Italian.
"I have already noted the fact that his name does not appear in the Almanach de Gotha. Never
mind, the title of count is often useful in the profession of blackmailing."
"I suppose I might as well be frank. You seem to know a good deal."
"I have employed my gray cells to some advantage. Come, Signor Ascanio, you visited the dead
man on the Tuesday morning - that is so, is it not?"
"Yes, but I never went there on the following evening. There was no need. I will tell you all. Certain
information concerning a man of great position in Italy had come into this scoundrel's possession.
He demanded a big sum of money in return for the papers. I came over to England to arrange the
matter. I called upon him by appointment that morning. One of the young secretaries of the
Embassy was with me. The Count was more reasonable than I had hoped, although even then the
sum of money I paid him was a huge one."
"Pardon, how was it paid?"
"In Italian notes of comparatively small denomination. I paid over the money then and there. He
handed me the incriminating papers. I never saw him again."
"Why did you not say all this when you were arrested?"
"In my delicate position I was forced to deny any association with the man."
"And how do you account for the events of the evening, then?"
"I can only think that some one must have deliberately impersonated me. I understand that no
money was found in the flat."
Poirot looked at him and shook his head.
"Strange," he murmured. "We all have the little gray cells. And so few of us know how to use them.
Good morning, Signor Ascanio. I believe your story. It is very much as I had imagined. But I had to
make sure."
After bowing his guest out, Poirot returned to his armchair and smiled at me.
"Let us hear M. le Capitaine Hastings on the case?"
"Well, I suppose Ascanio is right - somebody impersonated him."
"Never, never will you use the brains the good God has given you. Recall to yourself some words I
uttered after leaving the flat that night. I referred to the window-curtains not being drawn. We are in
the month of June. It is still light at eight o'clock. The light is failing by half-past. Ça vous dit quelque
chose? I perceive a struggling impression that you will arrive some day. Now let us continue. The
coffee was, as I said, very black. Count Foscatini's teeth were magnificently white. Coffee stains
the teeth. We reason from that that Count Foscatini did not drink any coffee. Yet there was coffee
in all three cups. Why should anyone pretend Count Foscatini had drunk coffee when he had not
done so?"
I shook my head, utterly bewildered.
"Come, I will help you. What evidence have we that Ascanio and his friend, or two men posing as
them, ever came to the flat that night? Nobody saw them go in; nobody saw them go out. We have
the evidence of one man and of a host of inanimate objects."
"You mean?"
"I mean knives and forks and plates and empty dishes. Ah, but it was a clever idea! Graves is a
thief and a scoundrel, but what a man of method! He overhears a portion of the conversation in the
morning, enough to realize that Ascanio will be in an awkward position to defend himself. The
following evening, about eight o'clock, he tells his master he is wanted at the telephone. Foscatini
sits down, stretches out his hand to the telephone, and from behind Graves strikes him down with
the marble figure. Then quickly to the service telephone - dinner for three! It comes, he lays the
table, dirties the plates, knives, and forks, etc. But he has to get rid of the food too. Not only is he a
man of brain; he has a resolute and capacious stomach! But after eating three tournedos, the rice
soufflé is too much for him! He even smokes a cigar and two cigarettes to carry out the illusion. Ah,
but it was magnificently thorough! Then, having moved on the hands of the clock to 8:47, he
smashes it and stops it. The one thing he does not do is to draw the curtains. But if there had been
a real dinner party the curtains would have been drawn as soon as the light began to fail. Then he
hurries out, mentioning the guests to the lift man in passing. He hurries to a telephone box, and as
near as possible to 8:47 rings up the doctor with his master's dying cry. So successful is his idea
that no one ever inquires if a call was put through from Flat 11 at that time."
"Except Hercule Poirot, I suppose?" I said sarcastically.
"Not even Hercule Poirot," said my friend, with a smile. "I am about to inquire now. I had to prove
my point to you first. But you will see, I shall be right; and then Japp, to whom I have already given
a hint, will be able to arrest the respectable Graves. I wonder how much of the money he has
spent."
Poirot was right. He always is, confound him!

THE CASE OF THE MISSING WILL

The problem presented to us by Miss Violet Marsh made rather a pleasant change from our usual
routine work. Poirot had received a brisk and business-like note from the lady asking for an
appointment, and he had replied asking her to call upon him at eleven o'clock the following day.
She arrived punctually - a tall, handsome young woman, plainly but neatly dressed, with an
assured and business-like manner. Clearly a young woman who meant to get on in the world. I am
not a great admirer of the so-called New Woman myself, and, in spite of her good looks, I was not
particularly prepossessed in her favor.
"My business is of a somewhat unusual nature, Monsieur Poirot," she began, after she had
accepted a chair. "I had better begin at the beginning and tell you the whole story."
"If you please, mademoiselle."
"I am an orphan. My father was one of two brothers, sons of a small yeoman farmer in Devonshire.
The farm was a poor one, and the elder brother, Andrew, emigrated to Australia, where he did very
well indeed, and by means of successful speculation in land became a very rich man. The younger
brother, Roger (my father), had no leanings towards the agricultural life. He managed to educate
himself a little, and obtained a post as a clerk with a small firm. He married slightly above him; my
mother was the daughter of a poor artist. My father died when I was six years old. When I was
fourteen, my mother followed him to the grave. My only living relation then was my Uncle Andrew,
who had recently returned from Australia and bought a small place, Crabtree Manor, in his native
county. He was exceedingly kind to his brother's orphan child, took me to live with him, and treated
me in every way as though I was his own daughter.
"Crabtree Manor, in spite of its name, is really only an old farmhouse. Farming was in my uncle's
blood, and he was intensely interested in various modern farming experiments. Although kindness
itself to me, he had certain peculiar and deeply-rooted ideas as to the up-bringing of women.
Himself a man of little or no education, though possessing remarkable shrewdness, he placed little
value on what he called 'book knowledge.' He was especially opposed to the education of women.
In his opinion, girls should learn practical housework and dairy-work, be useful about the home,
and have as little to do with book learning as possible. He proposed to bring me up on these lines,
to my bitter disappointment and annoyance. I rebelled frankly. I knew that I possessed a good
brain, and had absolutely no talent for domestic duties. My uncle and I had many bitter arguments
on the subject, for though much attached to each other, we were both self-willed. I was lucky
enough to win a scholarship, and up to a certain point was successful in getting my own way. The
crisis arose when I resolved to go to Girton. I had a little money of my own, left me by my mother,
and I was quite determined to make the best use of the gifts God had given me. I had one long,
final argument with my uncle. He put the facts plainly before me. He had no other relations, and he
had intended me to be his sole heiress. As I have told you, he was a very rich man. If I persisted in
these 'new-fangled notions' of mine, however, I need look for nothing from him. I remained polite,
but firm. I should always be deeply attached to him, I told him, but I must lead my own life. We
parted on that note. 'You fancy your brain, my girl,' were his last words. 'I've no book learning, but,
for all that, I'll pit mine against yours any day. We'll see what we shall see.'
"That was nine years ago. I have stayed with him for a week-end occasionally, and our relations
were perfectly amicable, though his views remained unaltered. He never referred to my having
matriculated, nor to my B.Sc. For the last three years his health had been failing, and a month ago
he died.
"I am now coming to the point of my visit. My uncle left a most extraordinary will. By its terms,
Crabtree Manor and its contents are to be at my disposal for a year from his death - 'during which
time my clever niece may prove her wits,' the actual words run. At the end of that period, 'my wits
having proved better than hers,' the house and all my uncle's large fortune pass to various
charitable institutions."
"That is a little hard on you, mademoiselle, seeing that you were Mr Marsh's only blood relation."
"I do not look on it in that way. Uncle Andrew warned me fairly, and I chose my own path. Since I
would not fall in with his wishes, he was at perfect liberty to leave his money to whom he pleased."
"Was the will drawn up by a lawyer?"
"No; it was written on a printed will-form and witnessed by the man and his wife who live in the
house and do for my uncle."
"There might be a possibility of upsetting such a will?"
"I would not even attempt to do such a thing."
"You regard it, then, as a sporting challenge on the part of your uncle?"
"That is exactly how I look upon it."
"It bears that interpretation, certainly," said Poirot thoughtfully. "Somewhere in this rambling old
manorhouse your uncle has concealed either a sum of money in notes or possibly a second will,
and has given you a year in which to exercise your ingenuity to find it."
"Exactly, Monsieur Poirot, and I am paying you the compliment of assuming that your ingenuity will
be greater than mine."
"Eh, eh! but that is very charming of you. My gray cells are at your disposal. You have made no
search yourself?"
"Only a cursory one; but I have too much respect for my uncle's undoubted abilities to fancy that
the task will be an easy one."
"Have you the will or a copy of it with you?"
Miss Marsh handed a document across the table. Poirot ran through it, nodding to himself.
"Made three years ago. Dated March 25; and the time is given also - 11 A.M. - that is very
suggestive. It narrows the field of search. Assuredly it is another will we have to seek for. A will
made even half-an-hour later would upset this. Eh bien, mademoiselle, it is a problem charming
and ingenious that you have presented to me here. I shall have all the pleasure in the world in
solving it for you. Granted that your uncle was a man of ability, his gray cells cannot have been of
the quality of Hercule Poirot's!"
(Really, Poirot's vanity is blatant!)
"Fortunately, I have nothing of moment on hand at the minute. Hastings and I will go down to
Crabtree Manor tonight. The man and wife who attended on your uncle are still there, I presume?"
"Yes, their name is Baker."

The following morning saw us started on the hunt proper. We had arrived late the night before. Mr
and Mrs Baker, having received a telegram from Miss Marsh, were expecting us. They were a
pleasant couple, the man gnarled and pink-cheeked, like a shriveled pippin, and his wife a woman
of vast proportions and true Devonshire calm.
Tired with our journey and the eight-mile drive from the station, we had retired at once to bed after
a supper of roast chicken, apple pie, and Devonshire cream. We had now disposed of an excellent
breakfast, and were sitting in a small paneled room which had been the late Mr Marsh's study and
living-room. A roll-top desk stuffed with papers, all neatly docketed, stood against the wall, and a
big leather armchair showed plainly that it had been its owner's constant resting-place. A big chintz-
covered settee ran along the opposite wall, and the deep low window seats were covered with the
same faded chintz of an old-fashioned pattern.
"Eh bien, mon ami," said Poirot, lighting one of his tiny cigarettes, "we must map out our plan of
campaign. Already I have made a rough survey of the house, but I am of opinion that any clue will
be found in this room. We shall have to go through the documents in the desk with meticulous care.
Naturally, I do not expect to find the will amongst them; but it is likely that some apparently innocent
paper may conceal the clue to its hiding-place. But first we must have a little information. Ring the
bell, I pray of you."
I did so. While we were waiting for it to be answered, Poirot walked up and down, looking about him
approvingly.
"A man of method this Mr Marsh. See how neatly the packets of papers are docketed; then the key
to each drawer has its ivory label - so has the key of the china cabinet on the wall; and see with
what precision the china within is arranged. It rejoices the heart. Nothing here offends the eye -"
He came to an abrupt pause, as his eye was caught by the key of the desk itself, to which a dirty
envelope was affixed. Poirot frowned at it and withdrew it from the lock. On it were scrawled the
words: "Key of Roll Top Desk," in a crabbed handwriting, quite unlike the neat superscriptions on
the other keys.
"An alien note," said Poirot, frowning. "I could swear that here we have no longer the personality of
Mr Marsh. But who else has been in the house? Only Miss Marsh, and she, if I mistake not, is also
a young lady of method and order."
Baker came in answer to the bell.
"Will you fetch madame your wife, and answer a few questions?"
Baker departed, and in a few moments returned with Mrs Baker, wiping her hands on her apron
and beaming all over her face.
In a few clear words Poirot set forth the object of his mission. The Bakers were immediately
sympathetic.
"Us don't want to see Miss Violet done out of what's hers," declared the woman. "Cruel hard 'twould
be for hospitals to get it all."
Poirot proceeded with his questions. Yes, Mr and Mrs Baker remembered perfectly witnessing the
will. Baker had previously been sent in to the neighbouring town to get two printed will-forms.
"Two?" said Poirot sharply.
"Yes, sir, for safety like, I suppose, in case he should spoil one - and sure enough, so he did do. Us
had signed one -"
"What time of day was that?"
Baker scratched his head, but his wife was quicker. "Why, to be sure, I'd just put the milk on for the
cocoa at eleven. Don't ee remember? It had all boiled over on the stove when us got back to
kitchen."
"And afterwards?"
"'T would be about an hour later. Us had to go in again. 'I've made a mistake,' says old master, 'had
to tear the whole thing up. I'll trouble you to sign again,' and us did. And afterwards master give us
a tidy sum of money each. 'I've left you nothing in my will,' says he, 'but each year I live you'll have
this to be a nest-egg when I'm gone'; and sure enough, so he did."
Poirot reflected.
"After you had signed the second time, what did Mr Marsh do? Do you know?"
"Went out to the village to pay tradesmen's books."
That did not seem very promising. Poirot tried another tack. He held out the key of the desk.
"Is that your master's writing?"
I may have imagined it, but I fancied that a moment or two elapsed before Baker replied: "Yes, sir,
it is."
"He's lying," I thought. "But why?"
"Has your master let the house? - have there been any strangers in it during the last three years?"
"No, sir."
"No visitors?"
"Only Miss Violet."
"No strangers of any kind been inside this room?"
"No, sir."
"You forget the workmen, Jim," his wife reminded him.
"Workmen?" Poirot wheeled round on her. "What workmen?"
The woman explained that about two years and a half ago workmen had been in the house to do
certain repairs. She was quite vague as to what the repairs were. Her view seemed to be that the
whole thing was a fad of her master's and quite unnecessary. Part of the time the workmen had
been in the study; but what they had done there she could not say, as her master had not let either
of them into the room whilst the work was in progress. Unfortunately, they could not remember the
name of the firm employed, beyond the fact that it was a Plymouth one.
"We progress, Hastings," said Poirot, rubbing his hands as the Bakers left the room. "Clearly he
made a second will and then had workmen from Plymouth in to make a suitable hiding-place.
Instead of wasting time taking up the floor and tapping the walls, we will go to Plymouth."
With a little trouble, we were able to get the information we wanted. After one or two essays, we
found the firm employed by Mr Marsh.
Their employees had all been with them many years, and it was easy to find the two men who had
worked under Mr Marsh's orders. They remembered the job perfectly. Amongst various other minor
jobs, they had taken up one of the bricks of the old-fashioned fireplace, made a cavity beneath, and
so cut the brick that it was impossible to see the join. By pressing on the second brick from the end,
the whole thing was raised. It had been quite a complicated piece of work, and the old gentleman
had been very fussy about it. Our informant was a man called Coghan, a big, gaunt man with a
grizzled mustache. He seemed an intelligent fellow.
We returned to Crabtree Manor in high spirits, and, locking the study door, proceeded to put our
newly acquired knowledge into effect. It was impossible to see any sign on the bricks, but when we
pressed in the manner indicated, a deep cavity was at once disclosed. Eagerly Poirot plunged in
his hand. Suddenly his face fell from complacent elation to consternation. All he held was a charred
fragment of stiff paper. But for it, the cavity was empty.
"Sacré!" cried Poirot angrily. "Some one has been before us."
We examined the scrap of paper anxiously. Clearly it was a fragment of what we sought. A portion
of Baker's signature remained, but no indication of what the terms of the will had been.
Poirot sat back on his heels. His expression would have been comical if we had not been so
overcome.
"I understand it not," he growled. "Who destroyed this? And what was their object?"
"The Bakers?" I suggested.
"Pourquoi? Neither will makes any provision for them, and they are more likely to be kept on with
Miss Marsh than if the place became the property of a hospital. How could it be to anyone's
advantage to destroy the will? The hospitals benefit - yes; but one cannot suspect institutions."
"Perhaps the old man changed his mind and destroyed it himself," I suggested.
Poirot rose to his feet, dusting his knees with his usual care.
"That may be," he admitted. "One of your more sensible observations, Hastings. Well, we can do
no more here. We have done all that mortal man can do. We have successfully pitted our wits
against the late Andrew Marsh's; but, unfortunately, his niece is no better off for our success."
By driving to the station at once, we were just able to catch a train to London, though not the
principal express. Poirot was sad and dissatisfied. For my part, I was tired and dozed in a corner.
Suddenly, as we were just moving out of Taunton, Poirot uttered a piercing squeal.
"Vite, Hastings! Awake and jump! But jump I say!"
Before I knew where I was we were standing on the platform, bareheaded and minus our valises,
whilst the train disappeared into the night. I was furious. But Poirot paid no attention.
"Imbecile that I have been!" he cried. "Triple imbecile! Not again will I vaunt my little gray cells!"
"That's a good job at any rate," I said grumpily. "But what is this all about?"
As usual, when following out his own ideas, Poirot paid absolutely no attention to me.
"The tradesmen's books - I have left them entirely out of account! Yes, but where? Where? Never
mind, I cannot be mistaken. We must return at once."
Easier said than done. We managed to get a slow train to Exeter, and there Poirot hired a car. We
arrived back at Crabtree Manor in the small hours of the morning. I pass over the bewilderment of
the Bakers when we had at last aroused them. Paying no attention to anybody, Poirot strode at
once to the study.
"I have been, not a triple imbecile, but thirty-six times one, my friend," he deigned to remark. "Now,
behold!"
Going straight to the desk, he drew out the key, and detached the envelope from it. I stared at him
stupidly. How could he possibly hope to find a big will-form in that tiny envelope? With great care
he cut open the envelope, laying it out flat. Then he lighted the fire and held the plain inside surface
of the envelope to the flame. In a few minutes faint characters began to appear.
"Look, mon ami!" cried Poirot in triumph.
I looked. There were just a few lines of faint writing stating briefly that he left everything to his
niece, Violet Marsh. It was dated March 25, 12:30 P.M., and witnessed by Albert Pike, confectioner,
and Jessie Pike, married woman.
"But is it legal?" I gasped.
"As far as I know, there is no law against writing your will in a blend of disappearing and
sympathetic ink. The intention of the testator is clear, and the beneficiary is his only living relation.
But the cleverness of him! He foresaw every step that a searcher would take - that I, miserable
imbecile, took. He gets two will-forms, makes the servants sign twice, then sallies out with his will
written on the inside of a dirty envelope and a fountain-pen containing his little ink mixture. On
some excuse he gets the confectioner and his wife to sign their names under his own signature,
then he ties it to the key of his desk and chuckles to himself. If his niece sees through his little ruse,
she will have justified her choice of life and elaborate education, and be thoroughly welcome to his
money."
"She didn't see through it, did she?" I said slowly. "It seems rather unfair. The old man really won."
"But no, Hastings. It is your wits that go astray. Miss Marsh proved the astuteness of her wits and
the value of the higher education for women by at once putting the matter in my hands. Always
employ the expert. She has amply proved her right to the money."
I wonder - I very much wonder - what old Andrew Marsh would have thought!

THE VEILED LADY

I had noticed that for some time Poirot had been growing increasingly dissatisfied and restless. We
had had no interesting cases of late, nothing on which my little friend could exercise his keen wits
and remarkable powers of deduction. This morning he flung down the newspaper with an impatient
'Tchah!' - a favourite exclamation of his which sounded exactly like a cat sneezing.
'They fear me, Hastings; the criminals of your England they fear me! When the cat is there, the little
mice, they come no more to the cheese!'
'I don't suppose the greater part of them even know of your existence,' I said, laughing.
Poirot looked at me reproachfully. He always imagines that the whole world is thinking and talking
of Hercule Poirot. He had certainly made a name for himself in London, but I could hardly believe
that his existence struck terror into the criminal world.
'What about that daylight robbery of jewels in Bond Street the other day?' I asked.
'A neat coup,' said Poirot approvingly, 'though not in my line. Pas de finesse, seuelment de
l'audace! A man with a loaded cane smashes the plate-glass window of a jeweller's shop and grabs
a number of precious stones. Worthy citizens immediately seize him; a policeman arrives. He is
caught red-handed with the jewels on him. He is marched off to the police, and then it is discovered
that the stones are paste. He has passed the real ones to a confederate - one of the
aforementioned worthy citizens. He will go to prison - true; but when he comes out, there will be a
nice little fortune awaiting him. Yes, not badly imagined. But I could do better than that. Sometimes,
Hastings, I regret that I am of such a moral disposition. To work against the law, it would be
pleasing, for a change.'
'Cheer up, Poirot; you know you are unique in your own line.'
'But what is there on hand in my own line?'
I picked up the paper.
'Here's an Englishman mysteriously done to death in Holland,' I said.
'They always say that - and later they find that he ate the tinned fish and that his death is perfectly
natural.'
'Well, if you're determined to grouse!'
'Tiens!' said Poirot, who had strolled across to the window. 'Here in the street is what they call in
novels a "heavily veiled lady". She mounts the steps; she rings the bell - she comes to consult us.
Here is a possibility of something interesting. When one is as young and pretty as that one, one
does not veil the face except for a big affair.'
A minute later our visitor was ushered in. As Poirot had said, she was indeed heavily veiled. It was
impossible to distinguish her features until she raised her veil of black Spanish lace. Then I saw
that Poirot's intuition had been right; the lady was extremely pretty, with fair hair and large blue
eyes. From the costly simplicity of her attire, I deduced at once that she belonged to the upper
strata of society.
'Monsieur Poirot,' said the lady in a soft, musical voice, 'I am in great trouble. I can hardly believe
that you can help me, but I have heard such wonderful things of you that I come literally as a last
hope to beg you to do the impossible.'
'The impossible, it pleases me always,' said Poirot. 'Continue, I beg of you, mademoiselle.'
Our fair guest hesitated.
'But you must be frank,' added Poirot. 'You must not leave me in the dark on any point.'
'I will trust you,' said the girl suddenly. 'You have heard of Lady Millicent Castle Vaughan?'
I looked up with keen interest. The announcement of Lady Millicent's engagement to the young
Duke of Southshire had appeared a few days previously. She was, I knew, the fifth daughter of an
impecunious Irish peer, and the Duke of Southshire was one of the best matches in England.
'I am Lady Millicent,' continued the girl. 'You may have read of my engagement. I should be one of
the happiest girls alive; but oh, M. Poirot, I am in terrible trouble! There is a man, a horrible man -
his name is Lavington; and he - I hardly know how to tell you. There was a letter I wrote - I was only
sixteen at the time; and he - he -'
'A letter that you wrote to this Mr Lavington?'
'Oh no - not to him! To a young soldier - I was very fond of him - he was killed in the war.'
'I understand,' said Poirot kindly.
'It was a foolish letter, an indiscreet letter, but indeed, M. Poirot, nothing more. But there are
phrases in it which - which might bear a different interpretation.'
'I see,' said Poirot. 'And this letter has come into the possession of Mr Lavington?'
'Yes, and he threatens, unless I pay him an enormous sum of money, a sum that it is quite
impossible for me to raise, to send it to the Duke.'
'The dirty swine!' I ejaculated. 'I beg your pardon, Lady Millicent.'
'Would it not be wiser to confess all to your future husband?'
'I dare not, M. Poirot. The Duke is a rather peculiar character, jealous and suspicious and prone to
believe the worst. I might as well break off my engagement at once.'
'Dear, dear,' said Poirot with an expressive grimace. 'And what do you want me to do, milady?'
'I thought perhaps that I might ask Mr Lavington to call upon you. I would tell him that you were
empowered by me to discuss the matter. Perhaps you could reduce his demands.'
'What sum does he mention?'
'Twenty thousand pounds - an impossibility. I doubt if I could raise a thousand, even.'
'You might perhaps borrow the money on the prospect of your approaching marriage - but I doubt if
you could get hold of half that sum. Besides - eh bien, it is repugnant to me that you should pay!
No, the ingenuity of Hercule Poirot shall defeat your enemies! Send me this Mr Lavington. Is he
likely to bring the letter with him?'
The girl shook her head.
'I do not think so. He is very cautious.'
'I suppose there is no doubt that he really has it?'
'He showed it to me when I went to his house.'
'You went to his house? That was very imprudent, milady.'
'Was it? I was so desperate. I hoped my entreaties might move him.'
'Oh, là là! The Lavingtons of this world are not moved by entreaties! He would welcome them as
showing how much importance you attached to the document. Where does he live, this fine
gentleman?'
'At Buona Vista, Wimbledon. I went there after dark -' Poirot groaned. 'I declared that I would inform
the police in the end, but he only laughed in a horrid, sneering manner. "By all means, my dear
Lady Millicent, do so if you wish," he said.'
'Yes, it is hardly an affair for the police,' murmured Poirot.
'"But I think you will be wiser than that," he continued. "See, here is your letter - in this little Chinese
puzzle box!" He held it so that I could see. I tried to snatch at it, but he was too quick for me. With a
horrid smile he folded it up and replaced it in the little wooden box. "It will be quite safe here, I
assure you," he said, "and the box itself lives in such a clever place that you would never find it."
My eyes turned to the small wall-safe, and he shook his head and laughed. "I have a better safe
than that," he said. Oh, he was odious! M. Poirot, do you think that you can help me?'
'Have faith in Papa Poirot. I will find a way.'
These reassurances were all very well, I thought, as Poirot gallantly ushered his fair client down the
stairs, but it seemed to me that we had a tough nut to crack. I said as much to Poirot when he
returned. He nodded ruefully.
'Yes - the solution does not leap to the eye. He has the whip hand, this M. Lavington. For the
moment I do not see how we are to circumvent him.'

Mr Lavington duly called upon us that afternoon. Lady Millicent had spoken truly when she
described him as an odious man. I felt a positive tingling in the end of my boot, so keen was I to
kick him down the stairs. He was blustering and overbearing in manner, laughed Poirot's gentle
suggestions to scorn, and generally showed himself as master of the situation. I could not help
feeling that Poirot was hardly appearing at his best. He looked discouraged and crestfallen.
'Well, gentlemen,' said Lavington, as he took up his hat, 'we don't seem to be getting much further.
The case stands like this: I'll let the Lady Millicent off cheap, as she is such a charming young lady.'
He leered odiously. 'We'll say eighteen thousand. I'm off to Paris today - a little piece of business to
attend to over there. I shall be back on Tuesday. Unless the money is paid by Tuesday evening,
the letter goes to the Duke. Don't tell me Lady Millicent can't raise the money. Some of her
gentlemen friends would be only too willing to oblige such a pretty woman with a loan - if she goes
the right way about it.'
My face flushed, and I took a step forward, but Lavington had wheeled out of the room as he
finished his sentence.
'My God!' I cried. 'Something has got to be done. You seem to be taking this lying down, Poirot.'
'You have an excellent heart, my friend - but your grey cells are in a deplorable condition. I have no
wish to impress Mr Lavington with my capabilities. The more pusillanimous he thinks me, the
better.'
'Why?'
'It is curious,' murmured Poirot reminiscently, 'that I should have uttered a wish to work against the
law just before Lady Millicent arrived!'
'You are going to burgle his house while he is away?' I gasped.
'Sometimes, Hastings, your mental processes are amazingly quick.'
'Suppose he takes the letter with him?'
Poirot shook his head.
'That is very unlikely. He has evidently a hiding-place in his house that he fancies to be pretty
impregnable.'
'When do we - er - do the deed?'
'Tomorrow night. We will start from here about eleven o'clock.'

At the time appointed I was ready to set off. I had donned a dark suit, and a soft dark hat. Poirot
beamed kindly on me.
'You have dressed the part, I see,' he observed. 'Come let us take the underground to Wimbledon.'
'Aren't we going to take anything with us? Tools to break in with?'
'My dear Hastings, Hercule Poirot does not adopt such crude methods.'
I retired, snubbed, but my curiosity was alert.
It was just on midnight that we entered the small suburban garden of Buona Vista. The house was
dark and silent. Poirot went straight to a window at the back of the house, raised the sash
noiselessly and bade me enter.
'How did you know this window would be open?' I whispered, for really it seemed uncanny.
'Because I sawed through the catch this morning.'
'What?'
'But yes, it was the most simple. I called, presented a fictitious card and one of Inspector Japp's
official ones. I said I had been sent, recommended by Scotland Yard, to attend to some
burglarproof fastenings that Mr Lavington wanted fixed while he was away. The housekeeper
welcomed me with enthusiasm. It seems they have had two attempted burglaries here lately -
evidently our little idea has occurred to other clients of Mr Lavington's - with nothing of value taken.
I examined all the windows, made my little arrangement, forbade the servants to touch the windows
until tomorrow, as they were electrically connected up, and withdrew gracefully.'
'Really, Poirot, you are wonderful.'
'Mon ami, it was of the simplest. Now, to work! The servants sleep at the top of the house, so we
will run little risk of disturbing them.'
'I presume the safe is built into the wall somewhere?'
'Safe? Fiddlesticks! There is no safe. Mr Lavington is an intelligent man. You will see, he will have
devised a hiding-place much more intelligent than a safe. A safe is the first thing everyone looks
for.'
Whereupon we began a systematic search of the entire place. But after several hours' ransacking
of the house, our search had been unavailing. I saw symptoms of anger gathering on Poirot's face.
'Ah, sapristi, is Hercule Poirot to be beaten? Never! Let us be calm. Let us reflect. Let us reason.
Let us - enfin! - employ our little grey cells!'
He paused for some moments, bending his brows in concentration; then the green light I knew so
well stole into his eyes.
'I have been an imbecile! The kitchen!'
'The kitchen,' I cried. 'But that's impossible. The servants!'
'Exactly. Just what ninety-nine people out of a hundred would say! And for that very reason the
kitchen is the ideal place to choose. It is full of various homely objects. En avant, to the kitchen!'
I followed him, completely sceptical, and watched whilst he dived into bread-bins, tapped
saucepans, and put his head into the gas-oven. In the end, tired of watching him, I strolled back to
the study. I was convinced that there, and there only, would we find the cache. I made a further
minute search, noted that it was now a quarter past four and that therefore it would soon be
growing light, and then went back to the kitchen regions.

To my utter amazement, Poirot was now standing right inside the coal-bin, to the utter ruin of his
neat light suit. He made a grimace.
'But yes, my friend, it is against all my instincts so to ruin my appearance, but what will you?'
'But Lavington can't have buried it under the coal?'
'If you would use your eyes, you would see that it is not the coal that I examine.'
I then saw that on a shelf behind the coal-bunker some logs of wood were piled. Poirot was
dexterously taking them down one by one. Suddenly he uttered a low exclamation.
'Your knife, Hastings!'
I handed it to him. He appeared to insert it in the wood, and suddenly the log split in two. It had
been neatly sawn in half and a cavity hollowed out in the centre. From this cavity Poirot took a little
wooden box of Chinese make.
'Well done!' I cried, carried out of myself.
'Gently, Hastings! Do not raise your voice too much. Come, let us be off, before the daylight is upon
us.'
Slipping the box into his pocket, he leaped lightly out of the coal-bunker, brushed himself down as
well as he could, and leaving the house by the same way as we had come, we walked rapidly in the
direction of London.
'But what an extraordinary place!' I expostulated. 'Anyone might have used the log.'
'In July, Hastings? And it was at the bottom of the pile - a very ingenious hiding-place. Ah, here is a
taxi! Now for home, a wash, and a refreshing sleep.'

After the excitement of the night, I slept late. When I finally strolled into our sitting-room just before
one o'clock, I was surprised to see Poirot, leaning back in an armchair, the Chinese box open
beside him, calmly reading the letter he had taken from it.
He smiled at me affectionately, and tapped the sheet he held.
'She was right, the Lady Millicent; never would the Duke have pardoned this letter! It contains some
of the most extravagant terms of affection I have ever come across.'
'Really, Poirot,' I said, rather disgustedly, 'I don't think you should really have read the letter. That's
the sort of thing that isn't done.'
'It is done by Hercule Poirot,' replied my friend imperturbably.
'And another thing,' I said. 'I don't think using Japp's official card yesterday was quite playing the
game.'
'But I was not playing a game, Hastings. I was conducting a case.'
I shrugged my shoulders. One can't argue with a point of view.
'A step on the stairs,' said Poirot. 'That will be Lady Millicent.'

Our fair client came in with an anxious expression on her face which changed to one of delight on
seeing the letter and box which Poirot held up.
'Oh, M. Poirot. How wonderful of you! How did you do it?'
'By rather reprehensible methods, milady. But Mr Lavington will not prosecute. This is your letter, is
it not?'
She glanced through it.
'Yes. Oh, how can I ever thank you! You are a wonderful, wonderful man. Where was it hidden?'
Poirot told her.
'How very clever of you!' She took up the small box from the table. 'I shall keep this as a souvenir.'
'I had hoped, milady, that you would permit me to keep it - also as a souvenir.'
'I hope to send you a better souvenir than that - on my wedding day. You shall not find me
ungrateful, M. Poirot.'
'The pleasure of doing you a service will be more to me than a cheque - so you permit that I retain
the box.'
'Oh no, M. Poirot, I simply must have that,' she cried laughingly.
She stretched out her hand, but Poirot was before her. His hand closed over it.
'I think not.' His voice had changed.
'What do you mean?' Her voice seemed to have grown sharper.
'At any rate, permit me to abstract its further contents. You observe that the original cavity has
been reduced by half. In the top half, the compromising letter; in the bottom -'
He made a nimble gesture, then held out his hand. On the palm were four large glittering stones,
and two big milky white pearls.
'The jewels stolen in Bond Street the other day, I rather fancy,' murmured Poirot. 'Japp will tell us.'
To my utter amazement, Japp himself stepped out from Poirot's bedroom.
'An old friend of yours, I believe,' said Poirot politely to Lady Millicent.
'Nabbed, by the Lord!' said Lady Millicent, with a complete change of manner. 'You nippy old devil!'
She looked at Poirot with almost affectionate awe.
'Well, Gertie, my dear,' said Japp, 'the game's up this time, I fancy. Fancy seeing you again so
soon! We've got your pal, too, the gentleman who called here the other day calling himself
Lavington. As for Lavington himself, alias Croker, alias Reed, I wonder which of the gang it was
who stuck a knife into him the other day in Holland? Thought he'd got the goods with him, didn't
you? And he hadn't. He double-crossed you properly - hid 'em in his own house. You had two
fellows looking for them, and then you tackled M. Poirot here, and by a piece of amazing luck he
found them.'
'You do like talking, don't you?' said the late Lady Millicent. 'Easy there, now. I'll go quietly. You
can't say that I'm not the perfect lady. Ta-ta, all!'
'The shoes were wrong,' said Poirot dreamily, while I was still too stupefied to speak. 'I have made
my little observations of your English nation, and a lady, a born lady, is always particular about her
shoes. She may have shabby clothes, but she will be well shod. Now, this Lady Millicent had smart,
expensive clothes, and cheap shoes. It was not likely that either you or I should have seen the real
Lady Millicent; she has been very little in London, and this girl had a certain superficial
resemblance which would pass well enough. As I say, the shoes first awakened my suspicions, and
then her story - and her veil - were a little melodramatic, eh? The Chinese box with a bogus
compromising letter in the top must have been known to all the gang, but the log of wood was the
late Mr Lavington's own idea. Eh, par exemple, Hastings, I hope you will not again wound my
feelings as you did yesterday by saying that I am unknown to the criminal classes. Ma foi, they
even employ me when they themselves fail!'
THE LOST MINE

I laid down my bank book with a sigh.

'It is a curious thing,' I observed, 'but my overdraft never seems to grow any less.'
'And it perturbs you not? Me, if I had an overdraft, never should I close my eyes all night,' declared
Poirot.
'You deal in comfortable balances, I suppose!' I retorted.
'Four hundred and forty-four pounds, four and fourpence,' said Poirot with some complacency. 'A
neat figure, is it not?'
'It must be tact on the part of your bank manager. He is evidently acquainted with your passion for
symmetrical details. What about investing, say three hundred of it, in the Porcupine oil-fields? Their
prospectus, which is advertised in the papers today, says that they will pay one hundred per cent in
dividends next year.'
'Not for me,' said Poirot, shaking his head. 'I like not the sensational. For me the safe, the prudent
investment - les rentes, the consols, the - how do you call it? - the conversion.'
'Have you never made a speculative investment?'
'No, mon ami,' replied Poirot severely. 'I have not. And the only shares I own which have not what
you call the gilded edge are fourteen thousand shares in the Burma Mines, Ltd.'
Poirot paused with an air of waiting to be encouraged to go on.
'Yes?' I prompted.
'And for them I paid no cash - no, they were the reward of the exercise of my little grey cells. You
would like to hear the story? Yes?'
'Of course I would.'
'These mines are situated in the interior, of Burma about two hundred miles inland from Rangoon.
They were discovered by the Chinese in the fifteenth century and worked down to the time of the
Mohammedan Rebellion, being finally abandoned in the year 1868. The Chinese extracted the rich
lead-silver ore from the upper part of the ore body, smelting it for the silver alone, and leaving large
quantities of rich lead-bearing slag. This, of course, was soon discovered when prospecting work
was carried out in Burma, but owing to the fact that the old workings had become full of loose filling
and water, all attempts to find the source of the ore proved fruitless. Many parties were sent out by
syndicates, and they dug over a large area, but this rich prize still eluded them. But a
representative of one of the syndicates got on the track of a Chinese family who were supposed to
have still kept a record of the situation of the mine. The present head of the family was one Wu
Ling.'
'What a fascinating page of commercial romance,' I exclaimed.
'Is it not? Ah, mon ami, one can have romance without golden-haired girls of matchless beauty -
no, I am wrong; it is auburn hair that so excites you always. You remember -'
'Go on with the story,' I said hastily.
'Eh bien, my friend, this Wu Ling was approached. He was an estimable merchant, much respected
in the province where he lived. He admitted at once that he owned the documents in question, and
was perfectly prepared to negotiate for this sale, but he objected to dealing with anyone other than
principals. Finally it was arranged that he should journey to England and meet the directors of an
important company.
'Wu Ling made the journey to England in the S.S. Assunta, and the Assunta docked at
Southampton on a cold, foggy morning in November. One of the directors, Mr Pearson, went down
to Southampton to meet the boat, but owing to the fog, the train down was very much delayed, and
by the time he arrived, Wu Ling had disembarked and left by special train for London. Mr Pearson
returned to town somewhat annoyed, as he had no idea where the Chinaman proposed to stay.
Later in the day, however, the offices of the company were rung up on the telephone. Wu Ling was
staying at the Russell Square Hotel. He was feeling somewhat unwell after the voyage, but
declared himself perfectly able to attend the board meeting on the following day.
'The meeting of the board took place at eleven o'clock. When half past eleven came, and Wu Ling
had not put in an appearance, the secretary rang up the Russell Hotel. In answer to his inquiries,
he was told that the Chinaman had gone out with a friend about half past ten. It seemed clear that
he had started out with the intention of coming to the meeting, but the morning wore away, and he
did not appear. It was, of course, possible that he had lost his way, being unacquainted with
London, but at a late hour that night he had not returned to the hotel. Thoroughly alarmed now, Mr
Pearson put matters in the hands of the police. On the following day, there was still no trace of the
missing man, but towards evening of the day after that again, a body was found in the Thames
which proved to be that of the ill-fated Chinaman. Neither on the body, nor in the luggage at the
hotel, was there any trace of the papers relating to the mine.
'At this juncture, mon ami, I was brought into the affair. Mr Pearson called upon me. While
profoundly shocked by the death of Wu Ling, his chief anxiety was to recover the papers which
were the object of the Chinaman's visit to England. The main anxiety of the police, of course, would
be to track down the murderer - the recovery of the papers would be a secondary consideration.
What he wanted me to do was to co-operate with the police while acting in the interests of the
company.
'I consented readily enough. It was clear that there were two fields of search open to me. On the
one hand, I might look among the employees of the company who knew of the Chinaman's coming;
on the other, among the passengers on the boat who might have been acquainted with his mission.
I started with the second, as being a narrower field of search. In this I coincided with Inspector
Miller, who was in charge of the case - a man altogether different from our friend Japp, conceited,
ill-mannered and quite insufferable. Together we interviewed the officers of the ship. They had little
to tell us. Wu Ling had kept much to himself on the voyage. He had been intimate with but two of
the other passengers - one a broken-down European named Dyer who appeared to bear a
somewhat unsavoury reputation, the other a young bank clerk named Charles Lester, who was
returning from Hong Kong. We were lucky enough to obtain snapshots of both these men. At the
moment there seemed little doubt that if either of the two was implicated, Dyer was the man. He
was known to be mixed up with a gang of Chinese crooks, and was altogether a most likely
suspect.
'Our next step was to visit the Russell Square Hotel. Shown a snapshot of Wu Ling, they
recognized him at once. We then showed them the snapshot of Dyer, but to our disappointment,
the hall porter declared positively that that was not the man who had come to the hotel on the fatal
morning. Almost as an afterthought, I produced the photograph, of Lester, and to my surprise the
man at once recognized it.
'"Yes, sir," he asserted, "that's the gentleman who came in at half past ten and asked for Mr Wu
Ling, and afterwards went out with him."
'The affair was progressing. Our next move was to interview Mr Charles Lester. He met us with the
utmost frankness, was desolated to hear of the Chinaman's untimely death, and put himself at our
disposal in every way. His story was as follows: By arrangement with Wu Ling, he called for him at
the hotel at ten-thirty. Wu Ling, however, did not appear. Instead, his servant came, explained that
his master had had to go out, and offered to conduct the young man to where his master now was.
Suspecting nothing, Lester agreed, and the Chinaman procured a taxi. They drove for some time in
the direction of the docks. Suddenly becoming mistrustful, Lester stopped the taxi and got out,
disregarding the servant's protests. That, he assured us, was all he knew.
'Apparently satisfied, we thanked him and took our leave. His story was soon proved to be a
somewhat inaccurate one. To begin with, Wu Ling had had no servant with him, either on the boat
or at the hotel. In the second place, the taxi-driver who had driven the two men on that morning
came forward. Far from Lester's having left the taxi en route, he and the Chinese gentleman had
driven to a certain unsavoury dwelling-place in Limehouse, right in the heart of Chinatown. The
place in question was more or less well known as an opium-den of the lowest description. The two
gentlemen had gone in - about an hour later the English gentleman, whom he identified from the
photograph, came out alone. He looked very pale and ill, and directed the taxi-man to take him to
the nearest underground station.
'Inquiries were made about Charles Lester's standing, and it was found that, though bearing an
excellent character, he was heavily in debt, and had a secret passion for gambling. Dyer, of course,
was not lost sight of. It seemed just faintly possible that he might have impersonated the other man,
but that idea was proved utterly groundless. His alibi for the whole of the day in question was
absolutely unimpeachable. Of course, the proprietor of the opium-den denied everything with
Oriental stolidity. He had never seen Wu Ling; he had never seen Charles Lester. No two
gentlemen had been to the place that morning. In any case, the police were wrong: no opium was
ever smoked there.
'His denials, however well meant, did little to help Charles Lester. He was arrested for the murder
of Wu Ling. A search of his effects was made, but no papers relating to the mine were discovered.
The proprietor of the opium-den was also taken into custody, but a cursory raid of his premises
yielded nothing. Not even a stick of opium rewarded the zeal of the police.
'In the meantime my friend Mr Pearson was in a great state of agitation. He strode up and down my
room, uttering great lamentations.
'"But you must have some ideas, M. Poirot!" he kept urging. "Surely you must have some ideas?"
'"Certainly I have ideas," I replied cautiously. "That is the trouble - one has too many; therefore they
all lead in different directions."
'"For instance?" he suggested.
'"For instance - the taxi-driver. We have only his word for it that he drove the two men to that
house. That is one idea. Then was it really that house they went to? Supposing that they left the
taxi there, passed through the house and out by another entrance and went elsewhere?"
'Mr Pearson seemed struck by that.
'"But you do nothing but sit and think? Can't we do something?"
'He was of an impatient temperament, you comprehend.
'"Monsieur," I said with dignity, "it is not for Hercule Poirot to run up and down the evil-smelling
streets of Limehouse like a little dog of no breeding. Be calm. My agents are at work."
'On the following day I had news for him. The two men had indeed passed through the house in
question, but their real objective was a small eating-house close to the river. They were seen to
pass in there, and Lester came out alone.
'And then, figure to yourself, Hastings, an idea of the most unreasonable seized this Mr Pearson!
Nothing would suit him but that we should go ourselves to this eating-house and make
investigations. I argued and prayed, but he would not listen. He talked of disguising himself - he
even suggested that I - I should - I hesitate to say it - should shave off my moustache! Yes, rien
que ça! I pointed out to him that that was an idea ridiculous and absurd. One destroys not a thing of
beauty wantonly. Besides, shall not a Belgian gentleman with a moustache desire to see life and
smoke the opium just as readily as one without a moustache?
'Eh bien, he gave in on that, but he still insisted on his project. He turned up that evening - Mon
Dieu, what a figure! He wore what he called the "pea-jacket", his chin, it was dirty and unshaved;
he had a scarf of the vilest that offended the nose. And figure to yourself, he was enjoying himself!
Truly, the English are mad! He made some changes in my own appearance. I permitted it. Can one
argue with a maniac? We started out - after all, could I let him go alone, a child dressed up to act
the charades?'
'Of course you couldn't,' I replied.
'To continue - we arrived. Mr Pearson talked English of the strangest. He represented himself to be
a man of the sea. He talked of "lubbers" and "focselles" and I know not what. It was a low little
room with many Chinese in it. We ate of peculiar dishes. Ah, Dieu, mon estomac!' Poirot clasped
that portion of his anatomy tenderly before continuing. 'Then there came to us the proprietor, a
Chinaman with a face of evil smiles.
'"You gentlemen no likee food here," he said. "You come for what you likee better. Piecee pipe,
eh?"
'Mr Pearson, he gave me the great kick under the table. (He had on the boots of the sea, too!) And
he said: "I don't mind if I do, John. Lead ahead."
'The Chinaman smiled, and he took us through a door and to a cellar and through a trapdoor, and
down some steps and up again into a room all full of divans and cushions of the most comfortable.
We lay down and a Chinese boy took off our boots. It was the best moment of the evening. Then
they brought us the opium-pipes and cooked the opium-pills, and we pretended to smoke and then
to sleep and dream. But when we were alone, Mr Pearson called softly to me, and immediately he
began crawling along the floor. We went into another room where other people were asleep, and so
on, until we heard two men talking. We stayed behind a curtain and listened. They were speaking
of Wu Ling.
'"What about the papers?" said one.
'"Mr Lester, he takee those," answered the other, who was a Chinaman. "He say, puttee them all in
safee place - where pleeceman no lookee."
'"Ah, but he's nabbed," said the first one.
'"He gettee free. Pleeceman not sure he done it."
'There was more of the same kind of thing, then apparently the two men were coming our way, and
we scuttled back to our beds.
'"We'd better get out of here," said Pearson, after a few minutes had elapsed. "This place isn't
healthy."
'"You are right, monsieur," I agreed. "We have played the farce long enough."
'We succeeded in getting away, all right, paying handsomely for our smoke. Once clear of
Limehouse, Pearson drew a long breath.
'"I'm glad to get out of that," he said. "But it's something to be sure."
'"It is indeed," I agreed. "And I fancy that we shall not have much difficulty in finding what we want -
after this evening's masquerade."
'And there was no difficulty whatsoever,' finished Poirot suddenly.
This abrupt ending seemed so extraordinary that I stared at him.
'But - but where were they?' I asked.
'In his pocket - tout simplement.'
'But in whose pocket?'
'Mr Pearson's, parbleu!'
Then, observing my look of bewilderment, he continued gently:
'You do not yet see it? Mr Pearson, like Charles Lester, was in debt. Mr Pearson, like Charles
Lester, was fond of gambling. And he conceived the idea of stealing the papers from the
Chinaman. He met him all right at Southampton, came up to London with him, and took him straight
to Limehouse. It was foggy that day; the Chinaman would not notice where he was going. I fancy
Mr Pearson smoked the opium fairly often down there and had some peculiar friends in
consequence. I do not think he meant murder. His idea was that one of the Chinamen should
impersonate Wu Ling and receive the money for the sale of the document. So far, so good! But, to
the Oriental mind, it was infinitely simpler to kill Wu Ling and throw his body into the river, and
Pearson's Chinese accomplices followed their own methods without consulting him. Imagine, then,
what you would call the "funk bleu" of M. Pearson. Someone may have seen him in the train with
Wu Ling - murder is a very different thing from simple abduction.
'His salvation lies with the Chinaman who is impersonating Wu Ling at the Russell Square Hotel. If
only the body is not discovered too soon! Probably Wu Ling had told him of the arrangement
between him and Charles Lester whereby the latter was to call for him at the hotel. Pearson sees
there an excellent way of diverting suspicion from himself. Charles Lester shall be the last person
to be seen in company with Wu Ling. The impersonator has orders to represent himself to Lester
as the servant of Wu Ling, and to bring him as speedily as possible to Limehouse. There, very
likely, he was offered a drink. The drink would be suitably drugged, and when Lester emerged an
hour later, he would have a very hazy impression of what had happened. So much was this the
case, that as soon as Lester learned of Wu Ling's death, he loses his nerve, and denies that he
ever reached Limehouse.
'By that, of course, he plays right into Pearson's hands. But is Pearson content? No - my manner
disquiets him, and he determines to complete the case against Lester. So he arranges an elaborate
masquerade. Me, I am to be gulled completely. Did I not say just now that he was as a child acting
the charades? Eh bien, I play my part. He goes home rejoicing. But in the morning, Inspector Miller
arrives on his doorstep. The papers are found on him; the game is up. Bitterly he regrets permitting
himself to play the farce with Hercule Poirot! There was only one real difficulty in the affair.'
'What was that?' I demanded curiously.
'Convincing Inspector Miller! What an animal, that! Both obstinate and imbecile. And in the end he
took all the credit.'
'Too bad,' I cried.
'Ah, well, I had my compensations. The other director of the Burma Mines Ltd awarded me fourteen
thousand shares as a small recompense for my services. Not so bad, eh? But when investing
money, keep, I beg of you, Hastings, strictly to the conservative. The things you read in the paper,
they may not be true. The directors of the Porcupine - they may be so many Mr Pearsons!'

THE CHOCOLATE BOX

It was a wild night. Outside, the wind howled malevolently, and the rain beat against the windows in
great gusts.
Poirot and I sat facing the hearth, our legs stretched out to the cheerful blaze. Between us was a
small table. On my side of it stood some carefully brewed hot toddy; on Poirot's was a cup of thick,
rich chocolate which I would not have drunk for a hundred pounds! Poirot sipped the thick brown
mess in the pink china cup, and sighed with contentment.
'Quelle belle vie!' he murmured.
'Yes, it's a good old world,' I agreed. 'Here am I with a job, and a good job too! And here are you,
famous -'
'Oh, mon ami!' protested Poirot.
'But you are. And rightly so! When I think back on your long line of successes, I am positively
amazed. I don't believe you know what failure is!'
'He would be a droll kind of original who could say that!'
'No, but seriously, have you ever failed?'
'Innumerable times, my friend. What would you? La bonne chance, it cannot always be on your
side. I have been called in too late. Very often another, working towards the same goal, has arrived
there first. Twice have I been stricken down with illness just as I was on the point of success. One
must take the downs with the ups, my friend.'
'I didn't quite mean that,' I said. 'I meant, had you ever been completely down and out over a case
through your own fault?'
'Ah, I comprehend! You ask if I have ever made the complete prize ass of myself, as you say over
here? Once, my friend -' A slow, reflective smile hovered over his face. 'Yes, once I made a fool of
myself.'
He sat up suddenly in his chair.
'See here, my friend, you have, I know, kept a record of my little successes. You shall add one
more story to the collection, the story of a failure!'
He leaned forward and placed a log on the fire. Then, after carefully wiping his hands on a little
duster that hung on a nail by the fireplace, he leaned back and commenced his story.
That of which I tell you (said M. Poirot) took place in Belgium many years ago. It was at the time of
the terrible struggle in France between church and state. M. Paul Déroulard was a French deputy
of note. It was an open secret that the portfolio of a Minister awaited him. He was among the
bitterest of the anti-Catholic party, and it was certain that on his accession to power, he would have
to face violent enmity. He was in many ways a peculiar man. Though he neither drank nor smoked,
he was nevertheless not so scrupulous in other ways. You comprehend, Hastings, c'était des
femmes - toujours des femmes!
He had married some years earlier a young lady from Brussels who had brought him a substantial
dot. Undoubtedly the money was useful to him in his career, as his family was not rich, though on
the other hand he was entitled to call himself M. le Baron if he chose. There were no children of the
marriage, and his wife died after two years - the result of a fall downstairs. Among the property
which she bequeathed to him was a house on the Avenue Louise in Brussels.
It was in this house that his sudden death took place, the event coinciding with the resignation of
the Minister whose portfolio he was to inherit. All the papers printed long notices of his career. His
death, which had taken place quite suddenly in the evening after dinner, was attributed to heart-
failure.
At that time, mon ami, I was, as you know, a member of the Belgian detective force. The death of
M. Paul Déroulard was not particularly interesting to me. I am, as you also know, bon catholique,
and his demise seemed to me fortunate.
It was some three days afterwards, when my vacation had just begun, that I received a visitor at my
own apartments - a lady, heavily veiled, but evidently quite young; and I perceived at once that she
was a jeune fille tout à fait comme il faut.
'You are Monsieur Hercule Poirot?' she asked in a low sweet voice.
I bowed.
'Of the detective service?'
Again I bowed. 'Be seated, I pray of you, mademoiselle,' I said.
She accepted a chair and drew aside her veil. Her face was charming, though marred with tears,
and haunted as though with some poignant anxiety.
'Monsieur,' she said, 'I understand that you are now taking a vacation. Therefore you will be free to
take up a private case. You understand that I do not wish to call in the police.'
I shook my head. 'I fear what you ask is impossible, mademoiselle. Even though on vacation, I am
still of the police.'
She leaned forward. 'Ecoutez, monsieur. All that I ask of you is to investigate. The result of your
investigations you are at perfect liberty to report to the police. If what I believe to be true is true, we
shall need all the machinery of the law.'
That placed a somewhat different complexion on the matter, and I placed myself at her service
without more ado.
A slight colour rose in her cheeks. 'I thank you, monsieur. It is the death of M. Paul Déroulard that I
ask you to investigate.'
'Comment?' I exclaimed, surprised.
'Monsieur, I have nothing to go upon - nothing but my woman's instinct, but I am convinced -
convinced, I tell you - that M. Déroulard did not die a natural death!'
'But surely the doctors -'
'Doctors may be mistaken. He was so robust, so strong. Ah, Monsieur Poirot, I beseech of you to
help me -'
The poor child was almost beside herself. She would have knelt to me. I soothed her as best I
could.
'I will help you, mademoiselle. I feel almost sure that your fears are unfounded, but we will see.
First, I will ask you to describe to me the inmates of the house.'
'There are the domestics, of course, Jeanette, Félicie, and Denise the cook. She has been there
many years; the others are simple country girls. Also there is François, but he too is an old servant.
Then there is Monsieur Déroulard's mother who lived with him, and myself. My name is Virginie
Mesnard. I am a poor cousin of the late Madame Déroulard, M. Paul's wife, and I have been a
member of their ménage for over three years. I have now described to you the household. There
were also two guests staying in the house.'
'And they were?'
'M. de Saint Alard, a neighbour of M. Déroulard's in France. Also an English friend, Mr John
Wilson.'
'Are they still with you?'
'Mr Wilson, yes, but M. de Saint Alard departed yesterday.'
'And what is your plan, Mademoiselle Mesnard?'
'If you will present yourself at the house in half an hour's time, I will have arranged some story to
account for your presence. I had better represent you to be connected with journalism in some way.
I shall say you have come from Paris, and that you have brought a card of introduction from M. de
Saint Alard. Madame Déroulard is very feeble in health, and will pay little attention to details.'
On mademoiselle's ingenious pretext I was admitted to the house, and after a brief interview with
the dead deputy's mother, who was a wonderfully imposing and aristocratic figure though obviously
in failing health, I was made free of the premises.
I wonder, my friend (continued Poirot), whether you can possibly figure to yourself the difficulties of
my task? Here was a man whose death had taken place three days previously. If there had been
foul play, only one possibility was admittable - poison! And I had had no chance of seeing the body,
and there was no possibility of examining, or analysing, any medium in which the poison could
have been administered. There were no clues, false or otherwise, to consider. Had the man been
poisoned? Had he died a natural death? I, Hercule Poirot, with nothing to help me, had to decide.
First, I interviewed the domestics, and with their aid, I recapitulated the evening. I paid especial
notice to the food at dinner, and the method of serving it. The soup had been served by M.
Déroulard himself from a tureen. Next a dish of cutlets, then a chicken. Finally a compote of fruits.
And all placed on the table, and served by Monsieur himself. The coffee was brought in a big pot to
the dinner-table. Nothing there, mon ami - impossible to poison one without poisoning all!
After dinner Madame Déroulard had retired to her own apartments and Mademoiselle Virginie had
accompanied her. The three men had adjourned to M. Déroulard's study. Here they had chatted
amicably for some time, when suddenly, without any warning, the deputy had fallen heavily to the
ground. M. de Saint Alard had rushed out and told François to fetch a doctor immediately. He said
it was without doubt an apoplexy, explained the man. But when the doctor arrived, the patient was
past help.
Mr John Wilson, to whom I was presented by Mademoiselle Virginie, was what was known in those
days as a regular John Bull Englishman, middle-aged and burly. His account, delivered in very
British French, was substantially the same.
'Déroulard went very red in the face, and down he fell.'
There was nothing further to be found out there. Next I went to the scene of the tragedy, the study,
and was left alone there at my own request. So far there was nothing to support Mademoiselle
Mesnard's theory. I could not but believe that it was a delusion on her part. Evidently she had
entertained a romantic passion for the dead man which had not permitted her to take a normal view
of the case. Nevertheless, I searched the study with meticulous care. It was just possible that a
hypodermic needle might have been introduced into the dead man's chair in such a way as to allow
of a fatal injection. The minute puncture it would cause was likely to remain unnoticed. But I could
discover no sign to support that theory. I flung myself down in the chair with a gesture of despair.
'Enfin, I abandon it!' I said aloud. 'There is not a clue anywhere! Everything is perfectly normal.'
As I said the words, my eyes fell on a large box of chocolates standing on a table near by, and my
heart gave a leap. It might not be a clue to M. Déroulard's death, but here at least was something
that was not normal. I lifted the lid. The box was full, untouched; not a chocolate was missing - but
that only made the peculiarity that had caught my eye more striking. For, see you, Hastings, while
the box itself was pink, the lid was blue. Now, one often sees a blue ribbon on a pink box, and vice
versa, but a box of one colour, and a lid of another - no; decidedly - ça ne se voit jamais!
I did not as yet see that this little incident was of any use to me, yet I determined to investigate it as
being out of the ordinary. I rang the bell for François, and asked him if his late master had been
fond of sweets. A faint melancholy smile came to his lips.
'Passionately fond of them, monsieur. He would always have a box of chocolates in the house. He
did not drink wine of any kind, you see.'
'Yet this box has not been touched?' I lifted the lid to show him.
'Pardon, monsieur, but that was a new box purchased on the day of his death, the other being
nearly finished.'
'Then the other box was finished on the day of his death,' I said slowly.
'Yes, monsieur, I found it empty in the morning and threw it away.'
'Did M. Déroulard eat sweets at all hours of the day?'
'Usually after dinner, monsieur.'
I began to see light.
'François,' I said, 'you can be discreet?'
'If there is need, monsieur.'
'Bon! Know, then, that I am of the police. Can you find me that other box?'
'Without doubt, monsieur. It will be in the dustbin.'
He departed, and returned in a few minutes with a dust-covered object. It was the duplicate of the
box I held, save for the fact that this time the box was blue and the lid was pink. I thanked François,
recommended him once more to be discreet, and left the house in the Avenue Louise without more
ado.
Next day I called upon the doctor who had attended M. Déroulard. With him I had a difficult task.
He entrenched himself prettily behind a wall of learned phraseology, but I fancied that he was not
quite as sure about the case as he would like to be.
'There have been many curious occurrences of the kind,' he observed, when I had managed to
disarm him somewhat. 'A sudden fit of anger, a violent emotion - after a heavy dinner, c'est
entendu - then, with an access of rage, the blood flies to the head, and pst! - there you are!'
'But M. Déroulard had had no violent emotion.'
'No? I made sure that he had been having a stormy altercation with M. de Saint Alard.'
'Why should he?'
'C'est évident!' The doctor shrugged his shoulders. 'Was not M. de Saint Alard a Catholic of the
most fanatical? Their friendship was being ruined by this question of church and state. Not a day
passed without discussions. To M. de Saint Alard, Déroulard appeared almost as Antichrist.'
This was unexpected, and gave me food for thought.
'One more question, Doctor: would it be possible to introduce a fatal dose of poison into a
chocolate?'
'It would be possible, I suppose,' said the doctor slowly. 'Pure prussic acid would meet the case if
there were no chance of evaporation, and a tiny globule of anything might be swallowed unnoticed
- but it does not seem a very likely supposition. A chocolate full of morphine or strychnine -' He
made a wry face. 'You comprehend, M. Poirot - one bite would be enough! The unwary one would
not stand upon ceremony.'
'Thank you, M. le Docteur.'
I withdrew. Next I made inquiries of the chemists, especially those in the neighbourhood of the
Avenue Louise. It is good to be of the police. I got the information I wanted without any trouble.
Only in one case could I hear of any poison having been supplied to the house in question. This
was some eye drops of atropine sulphate for Madame Déroulard. Atropine is a potent poison, and
for the moment I was elated, but the symptoms of atropine poisoning are closely allied to those of
ptomaine, and bear no resemblance to those I was studying. Besides, the prescription was an old
one. Madame Déroulard had suffered from cataract in both eyes for many years.
I was turning away discouraged when the chemist's voice called me back.
'Un moment, M. Poirot. I remember, the girl who brought that prescription, she said something
about having to go on to the English chemist. You might try there.'
I did. Once more enforcing my official status, I got the information I wanted. On the day before M.
Déroulard's death they had made up a prescription for Mr John Wilson. Not that there was any
making up about it. They were simply little tablets of trinitrine. I asked if I might see some. He
showed me them, and my heart beat faster - for the tiny tablets were of chocolate.
'It is a poison?' I asked.
'No, monsieur.'
'Can you describe to me its effect?'
'It lowers the blood-pressure. It is given for some forms of heart trouble - angina pectoris for
instance. It relieves the arterial tension. In arteriosclerosis -'
I interrupted him. 'Ma foi! This rigmarole says nothing to me. Does it cause the face to flush?'
'Certainly it does.'
'And supposing I ate ten - twenty of your little tablets, what then?'
'I should not advise you to attempt it,' he replied drily.
'And yet you say it is not poison?'
'There are many things not called poison which can kill a man,' he replied as before.
I left the shop elated. At last, things had begun to march!
I now knew that John Wilson held the means for the crime - but what about the motive? He had
come to Belgium on business, and had asked M. Déroulard, whom he knew slightly, to put him up.
There was apparently no way in which Déroulard's death could benefit him. Moreover, I discovered
by inquiries in England that he had suffered for some years from that painful form of heart disease
known as angina. Therefore he had a genuine right to have those tablets in his possession.
Nevertheless, I was convinced that someone had gone to the chocolate box, opening the full one
first by mistake, and had abstracted the contents of the last chocolate, cramming in instead as
many little trinitrin tablets as it would hold. The chocolates were large ones. Between twenty or
thirty tablets, I felt sure, could have been inserted. But who had done this?
There were two guests in the house. John Wilson had the means. Saint Alard had the motive.
Remember, he was a fanatic, and there is no fanatic like a religious fanatic. Could he, by any
means, have got hold of John Wilson's trinitrine?
Another little idea came to me. Ah! You smile at my little ideas! Why had Wilson run out of
trinitrine? Surely he would bring an adequate supply from England. I called once more at the house
in the Avenue Louise. Wilson was out, but I saw the girl who did his room, Félicie. I demanded of
her immediately whether it was not true that M. Wilson had lost a bottle from his washstand some
little time ago. The girl responded eagerly. It was quite true. She, Félicie, had been blamed for it.
The English gentleman had evidently thought that she had broken it, and did not like to say so.
Whereas she had never even touched it. Without doubt it was Jeannette - always nosing round
where she had no business to be -
I calmed the flow of words, and took my leave. I knew now all that I wanted to know. It remained for
me to prove my case. That, I felt, would not be easy. I might be sure that Saint Alard had removed
the bottle of trinitrine from John Wilson's washstand, but to convince others, I would have to
produce evidence. And I had none to produce!
Never mind. I knew - that was the great thing. You remember our difficulty in the Styles case,
Hastings? There again, I knew but it took me a long time to find the last link which made my chain
of evidence against the murderer complete.
I asked for an interview with Mademoiselle Mesnard. She came at once. I demanded of her the
address of M. de Saint Alard. A look of trouble came over her face.
'Why do you want it, monsieur?'
'Mademoiselle, it is necessary.'
She seemed doubtful - troubled.
'He can tell you nothing. He is a man whose thoughts are not in this world. He hardly notices what
goes on around him.'
'Possibly, mademoiselle. Nevertheless, he was an old friend of M. Déroulard's. There may be
things he can tell me - things of the past - old grudges - old love-affairs.'
The girl flushed and bit her lip. 'As you please - but - but - I feel sure now that I have been
mistaken. It was good of you to accede to my demand, but I was upset - almost distraught at the
time. I see now that there is no mystery to solve. Leave it, I beg of you, monsieur.'
I eyed her closely.
'Mademoiselle,' I said, 'it is sometimes difficult for a dog to find a scent, but once he has found it,
nothing on earth will make him leave it! That is if he is a good dog! And I, mademoiselle, I, Hercule
Poirot, am a very good dog.'
Without a word she turned away. A few minutes later she returned with the address written on a
sheet of paper. I left the house. François was waiting for me outside. He looked at me anxiously.
'There is no news, monsieur?'
'None as yet, my friend.'
'Ah! Pauvre Monsieur Déroulard!' he sighed. 'I too was of his way of thinking. I do not care for
priests. Not that I would say so in the house. The women are all devout - a good thing perhaps.
Madame est très pieuse - et Mademoiselle Virginie aussi.'
Mademoiselle Virginie? Was she 'très pieuse?' Thinking of the tear-stained passionate face I had
seen that first day, I wondered.
Having obtained the address of M. de Saint Alard, I wasted no time. I arrived in the neighbourhood
of his château in the Ardennes but it was some days before I could find a pretext for gaining
admission to the house. In the end I did - how do you think - as a plumber, mon ami! It was the
affair of a moment to arrange a neat little gas leak in his bedroom. I departed for my tools, and took
care to return with them at an hour when I knew I should have the field pretty well to myself. What I
was searching for, I hardly knew. The one thing needful, I could not believe there was any chance
of finding. He would never have run the risk of keeping it.
Still when I found a little cupboard above the washstand locked, I could not resist the temptation of
seeing what was inside it. The lock was quite a simple one to pick. The door swung open. It was full
of old bottles. I took them up one by one with a trembling hand. Suddenly, I uttered a cry. Figure to
yourself, my friend, I held in my hand a little phial with an English chemist's label. On it were the
words: 'Trinitrine Tablets. One to be taken when required. Mr John Wilson.'
I controlled my emotion, closed the little cupboard, slipped the bottle into my pocket, and continued
to repair the gas leak! One must be methodical. Then I left the château, and took train for my own
country as soon as possible. I arrived in Brussels late that night. I was writing out a report for the
préfet in the morning, when a note was brought to me. It was from old Madame Déroulard, and it
summoned me to the house in the Avenue Louise without delay.
François opened the door to me.
'Madame la Baronne is awaiting you.'
He conducted me to her apartments. She sat in state in a large armchair. There was no sign of
Mademoiselle Virginie.
'M. Poirot,' said the old lady. 'I have just learned that you are not what you pretend to be. You are a
police officer.'
'That is so, madame.'
'You came here to inquire into the circumstances of my son's death?'
Again I replied: 'That is so, madame.'
'I should be glad if you would tell me what progress you have made.'
I hesitated.
'First I would like to know how you have learned all this, madame.'
'From one who is no longer of this world.'
Her words, and the brooding way she uttered them, sent a chill to my heart. I was incapable of
speech.
'Wherefore, monsieur, I would beg of you most urgently to tell me exactly what progress you have
made in your investigation.'
'Madame, my investigation is finished.'
'My son?'
'Was killed deliberately.'
'You know by whom?'
'Yes, madame.'
'Who, then?'
'M. de Saint Alard.'
The old lady shook her head.
'You are wrong. M. de Saint Alard is incapable of such a crime.'
'The proofs are in my hands.'
'I beg of you once more to tell me all.'
This time I obeyed, going over each step that had led me to the discovery of the truth. She listened
attentively. At the end she nodded her head.
'Yes, yes, it is all as you say, all but one thing. It was not M. de Saint Alard who killed my son. It
was I, his mother.'
I stared at her. She continued to nod her head gently.
'It is well that I sent for you. It is the providence of the good God that Virginie told me before she
departed for the convent, what she had done. Listen, M. Poirot! My son was an evil man. He
persecuted the church. He led a life of mortal sin. He dragged down other souls beside his own.
But there was worse than that. As I came out of my room in this house one morning, I saw my
daughter-in-law standing at the head of the stairs. She was reading a letter. I saw my son steal up
behind her. One swift push, and she fell, striking her head on the marble steps. When they picked
her up she was dead. My son was a murderer, and only I, his mother, knew it.'
She closed her eyes for a moment. 'You cannot conceive, monsieur, of my agony, my despair.
What was I to do? Denounce him to the police? I could not bring myself to do it. It was my duty, but
my flesh was weak. Besides, would they believe me? My eyesight had been failing for some time -
they would say I was mistaken. I kept silence. But my conscience gave me no peace. By keeping
silence I too was a murderer. My son inherited his wife's money. He flourished as the green bay
tree. And now he was to have a Minister's portfolio. His persecution of the church would be
redoubled. And there was Virginie. She, poor child, beautiful, naturally pious, was fascinated by
him. He had a strange and terrible power over women. I saw it coming. I was powerless to prevent
it. He had no intention of marrying her. The time came when she was ready to yield everything to
him.
'Then I saw my path clear. He was my son. I had given him life. I was responsible for him. He had
killed one woman's body, now he would kill another's soul! I went to Mr Wilson's room, and took the
bottle of tablets. He had once said laughingly that there were enough in it to kill a man! I went into
the study and opened the big box of chocolates that always stood on the table. I opened a new box
by mistake. The other was on the table also. There was just one chocolate left in it. That simplified
things. No one ate chocolates except my son and Virginie. I would keep her with me that night. All
went as I had planned -'
She paused, closing her eyes a minute then opened them again.
'M. Poirot, I am in your hands. They tell me I have not many days to live. I am willing to answer for
my action before the good God. Must I answer for it on earth also?'
I hesitated. 'But the empty bottle, madame,' I said to gain time. 'How came that into M. de Saint
Alard's possession?'
'When he came to say goodbye to me, monsieur, I slipped it into his pocket. I did not know how to
get rid of it. I am so infirm that I cannot move about much without help, and finding it empty in my
rooms might have caused suspicion. You understand, monsieur -' she drew herself up to her full
height - 'it was with no idea of casting suspicion on M. de Saint Alard! I never dreamed of such a
thing. I thought his valet would find an empty bottle and throw it away without question.'
I bowed my head. 'I comprehend, madame,' I said.
'And your decision, monsieur?'
Her voice was firm and unfaltering, her head held as high as ever. I rose to my feet.
'Madame,' I said, 'I have the honour to wish you good day. I have made my investigations - and
failed! The matter is closed.'
He was silent for a moment, then said quietly: 'She died just a week later. Mademoiselle Virginie
passed through her novitiate, and duly took the veil. That, my friend, is the story. I must admit that I
do not make a fine figure in it.'
'But that was hardly a failure,' I expostulated. 'What else could you have thought under the
circumstances?'
'Ah, sacré, mon ami,' cried Poirot, becoming suddenly animated. 'Is it that you do not see? But I
was thirty-six times an idiot! My grey cells, they functioned not at all. The whole time I had the true
clue in my hands.'
'What clue?'
'The chocolate box! Do you not see? Would anyone in possession of their full eyesight make such
a mistake? I knew Madame Déroulard had cataract - the atropine drops told me that. There was
only one person in the household whose eyesight was such that she could not see which lid to
replace. It was the chocolate box that started me on the track, and yet up to the end I failed
consistently to perceive its real significance!
'Also my psychology was at fault. Had M. de Saint Alard been the criminal, he would never have
kept an incriminating bottle. Finding it was a proof of his innocence. I had learned already from
Mademoiselle Virginie that he was absent-minded. Altogether it was a miserable affair that I have
recounted to you there! Only to you have I told the story. You comprehend, I do not figure well in it!
An old lady commits a crime in such a simple and clever fashion that I, Hercule Poirot, am
completely deceived. Sapristi! It does not bear thinking of! Forget it. Or no - remember it, and if you
think at any time that I am growing conceited - it is not likely, but it might arise.'
I concealed a smile.
'Eh bien, my friend, you shall say to me, "Chocolate box". Is it agreed?'
'It's a bargain!'
'After all,' said Poirot reflectively, 'it was an experience! I, who have undoubtedly the finest brain in
Europe at present, can afford to be magnanimous!'
'Chocolate box,' I murmured gently.
'Pardon, mon ami?'
I looked at Poirot's innocent face, as he bent forward inquiringly, and my heart smote me. I had
suffered often at his hands, but I, too, though not possessing the finest brain in Europe, could afford
to be magnanimous!
'Nothing,' I lied, and lit another pipe, smiling to myself.